NBA Offseason 2018

[ALessKosherScott]

 

So, you’re going with the ol’ ‘addition by subtraction’ way of thinking, then eh? Best of luck.

 

What I'm saying is don't make a bad situation worse by taking other team's bad contracts for marginally good players. 

[KirbyDome89]

 

I think Thibs has the right to expect a good player who doesn't kill your team long-term in return for a second-team All-NBA player.

 

If Miami doesn't want to part with Josh Richardson for Butler, the Timberwolves shouldn't trade Butler to Miami.

 

If the Clippers don't want to deal Tobias Harris for Butler, the Timberwolves shouldn't trade Butler to the Clippers.

 

If the Bucks don't want to deal Khris Middleton for Butler, the Timberwolves shouldn't trade Butler to the Bucks.

 

Every trade of what's "officially" been offered on that tweet from a couple of days ago makes the Timberwolves worse. The only one that offers anything revolving around a young talent is the Milwaukee one, and Tyus Jones > Brogdon. 

Sure, as long as the Wolves are willing to forego a high draft choice or another young player with potential as part of the deal. My point is that MN is asking for too much and it's unlikely anybody gives the Wolves everything they want. In that case they need to prioritize what's most important to them. Do they want younger players and draft compensation, or do they want a few solid veterans and to rid themselves of Dieng's contract? 

[Pardon My Dinger]

I don’t feel like unloading Gorgui’s contract should be a priority for the wolves. Am I alone on that?

[TheLeviathan]

If it is a priority, I know who to blame for that too.

[Pardon My Dinger]

Crickets on the jimmy front the last couple of days. Is thibs...is he winning this stare down?

[TheLeviathan]

Well, all the reports are that we pulled the rug out from under Miami after they put Richardson in the deal.

 

I don't know what this ultimately looks like, but it's sad that we're having to hold out for Josh Richardson.  I want Levine back.

[Pardon My Dinger]

Per the NYT, Wolves could have gotten Richardson and a first, but preferred to not not trade Dieng. So, what does Thibs want? The answer: to be fired. And I’m growing even more convinced that’s all there is to this.

 

He will never ever ever ever ever get another head coaching job in this league. He knows it. Just gunning for that severance package now.

[PseudoSABR]

 

 

[Pardon My Dinger]

Are you not entertained?

[nicksaviking]

Um, if somehow this carousel comes back around and Butler stays, can we still get rid of Thibs?

[TheLeviathan]

Every day with Thibs is another day wasted. Fire him.

[Mr. Brooks]

This shows how dysfunctional the state of the leadership is on this team. Both that the coaches and GM allowed this to go on, and that none of the players had Tibs/Leyden's back enough to challenge Butler's behavior.

 

I've seen a whole lot of dysfunction in the 25 years that I've followed this franchise, but the current state might just take the cake.

[TheLeviathan]

I can't look for the audio right now, but someone asked Jimmy about this and he had a rambling stream of BS that was infuriating to hear.

 

He may be my least liked NBA player after that.  He's delusional, sanctimonious, and basically comes off as a child.

 

Get rid of him.  

[Vanimal46]

[TheLeviathan]

There it is....just....ugh.  This guy is an ass.

 

I don't blame KAT or Wiggins for hating this guy.

[Vanimal46]

There it is....just....ugh. This guy is an ass.

 

I don't blame KAT or Wiggins for hating this guy.

I think he's an old soul that can't relate to the kidzzz today. Someone is going to get a really really good player this season. Whoever hands him a near max deal next offseason is making a big mistake.

[Pardon My Dinger]

I don’t necessarily empathize blindly with Jimmy, but the FO was warned. It shouldn’t have come this far. I have always thought Jimmy is a decent guy. Still do. Can you all imagine yourselves coping with this level of ineptitude?

[PseudoSABR]

 

Wha?

[TheLeviathan]

 

I don’t necessarily empathize blindly with Jimmy, but the FO was warned. It shouldn’t have come this far. I have always thought Jimmy is a decent guy. Still do. Can you all imagine yourselves coping with this level of ineptitude?

 

I find it far more difficult to imagine dealing with Jimmy Butler's complete lack of self-awareness on a daily basis.

[Pardon My Dinger]

I for one have no idea what is meant by “anybody can get this work.” No idea.

[Pardon My Dinger]

I find it far more difficult to imagine dealing with Jimmy Butler's complete lack of self-awareness on a daily basis.

Point is, they were told that this would happen, if they couldn’t have guessed it on their own. I feel for the players, getting roped in with this nonsense, but this day clearly should never have come.

[Mr. Brooks]

Point is, they were told that this would happen, if they couldn’t have guessed it on their own. I feel for the players, getting roped in with this nonsense, but this day clearly should never have come.

Butler is still under contract.

If he doesn't want to return after his contract expires, I don't blame him.

He's not entitled to be traded when and where he chooses.

Should the team trade a player on an expiring deal if they don't want to be here? Of course, but the sense of entitlement is still pretty infuriating.

 

If a child warns you that they are going to meltdown and throw a temper tantrum at bedtime, does that absolve them of said tantrum? The Wolves knowing this would happen doesn't make it any less childish.

I certainly agree with Levi that this attitude and behavior shines a different light on the reported relationship between him and Towns.

 

Where I previously thought that Butler was just a pro's pro who wanted everyone to win as badly as he did, and perhaps Towns lacked that commitment. I now have to consider that maybe Butler is just a spoiled crybaby.

 

And Tibs has been childish in this process as well, so i certainly won't defend him either.

[Vanimal46]

I don’t necessarily empathize blindly with Jimmy, but the FO was warned. It shouldn’t have come this far. I have always thought Jimmy is a decent guy. Still do. Can you all imagine yourselves coping with this level of ineptitude?

Yep, he said they were warned 4 days after the season concluded. Plenty of lead time to do something, yet Thibs put on earmuffs yelling 'FALALALALA CAN'T HEAR YOU!'

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I for one have no idea what is meant by “anybody can get this work.” No idea.

Blind guess (after wondering myself and thinking it over): Being a bench guy in the NBA? (in other words, KAT making a casual insult, in the context of Jimmy & the subs taking it to the starters in practice).

 

Thanks, I'll hang up and listen.

[Pardon My Dinger]

Blind guess (after wondering myself and thinking it over): Being a bench guy in the NBA? (in other words, KAT making a casual insult, in the context of Jimmy & the subs taking it to the starters in practice).

 

Thanks, I'll hang up and listen.

Seems like a solid guess. But it sounds to me like the starters got worked by Jimmy and the slugs.

[Pardon My Dinger]

Side note: I reserve the rights to Jimmy and the Slugs as a future band name. You can’t have it, it’s mine.

[ashbury]

Side note: I reserve the rights to Jimmy and the Slugs as a future band name. You can’t have it, it’s mine.

Jimmy and the Slugs walk into a bar.

"We don't get many slugs in here," the barkeeper observes, as he serves his new customers margaritas on the house.

"And with all that salt you used to line the glasses, you won't get many more," Jimmy sadly responds.

 

^{_{/ wait - this is not a game thread?}}

[TheLeviathan]

 

Point is, they were told that this would happen, if they couldn’t have guessed it on their own. I feel for the players, getting roped in with this nonsense, but this day clearly should never have come.

 

Oh, I agree.  Letting him practice today was a stupid.  

 

But again...that's Thibs. He wants to make this work.  He's been willfully ignoring this mess for months and it has caused irreparable harm in the process.  Now he's willfully enduring this gong show for the same reason.

 

Good riddance to him and Jimmy, they seem to deserve each other.  They try to talk an unselfish game, but they are every bit the opposite.

[TheLeviathan]

Reusse spot on. 

[nicksaviking]

 

Reusse spot on. 

 

I agree with him in that I'm disappointed that this could happen. I might not be as confident in a couple of Reusse's claims though. Butler certainly has an ego problem, I'm not sure that means he couldn't work with other star players though. It's possible that his ego became bruised due to being out of the spotlight in the smaller market Minneapolis, that's always the narrative that we hear regarding free agents in all professional sports anyway. Maybe he'll be another Carmello Anthony, but perhaps if there's still enough cameras on him he can still share the stage with another star player.

 

Also, while it's unlikely I wouldn't rule out Thibs being completely out of the loop in this charade. Even if he does have a passion for coaching, I doubt he's looking forward to coaching this franchise the next three years. That would be an awfully awkward job. And while Reusse is likely right, that he'd be blacklisted from coaching if he helped set this up, he probably wouldn't be if he wasn't caught, which he hasn't been.