Ricky Rubio believes the Timberwolves are playing selfishly, which has led to 11 losses in their last 12 games, Chris Hine of the Minneapolis Star Tribune writes. Rubio, who returned to action Friday after clearing COVID-19 protocols, says the team needs to air out its issues.
“It would be good to have a long meeting, but I don’t think we can have more than a 10-minute meeting,” the Timberwolves guard said. “But we need like a three-hour meeting. After talking, we got to execute the words that we have.”
We have more from the Northwest Division:
- Monte Morris is grateful the Nuggets extended his contract during the offseason, Mike Singer of the Denver Post tweets. “The contract got me at peace,” he said. Morris, who signed a three-year, $27MM extension early last month, is averaging a career-high 11.7 PPG and 3.2 APG in 26.3 MPG through Denver’s first 15 games.
- It’s time for third-year guard Anfernee Simons to assert himself with CJ McCollum sidelined by a foot injury, Jason Quick of The Athletic opines. Simons needs to show he can consistently make 3-pointers, run the team and defend without fouling, Quick says. In Simons’ last outing, he scored six points in 15 minutes on Monday. The Trail Blazers picked up their 2021/22 option on Simons last month.
- While Donovan Mitchell has received some criticism for his lack of impact on the defensive end, he’s living up to his bill as the Jazz‘s franchise player, Tony Jones of The Athletic argues. There’s little doubt that Mitchell is capable of being the No. 1 offensive option on a title team, Jones asserts. Mitchell, who signed a max extension in November, is averaging career highs in points (24.3), assists (4.9) and 3-point shooting (40.8%).
Wolves are unfixable because of no tax room
3 worst teams are
Wolves
Wizards
Pistons
Warriors could be a loser on Wolves top 3 protected pick
IMO
Wall and Cousins are washed up
Rockets injury issues are not fixable too
If Oladipo is traded to save costs, Rockets could get top 4 pick
Then Thunder could be a draft pick loser this summer
Rockets have 3 stars
Wall
Cousins
Oladipo
How do u end with the rockets have 3 stars when u called 2 of them washed in the second point u made?
Cousins isn’t one of their 3 stars, but Christian Wood is. The Rockets have 4 players who currently average about 18-24 PPG apiece. Houston won’t be trading away any of its top players because they’re contenders and soon everyone will come to realize that.
Knicks to trade Randle and DSJ for Rubio and Okogie. Just makes a load of sense.
Knicks get a vet PG to run the offence through, he’s a leader and good defender. They also turn DSJ into Okogie. DSJ isn’t needed at all now that Quickly was drafted and is looking great. Okogie is a young defensive SG/SF that they can use for depth.
Minny gets itself a starting PF they desperately need. Randle is balling out this season, averaging 22.5-11.5-6 (all career highs) while shooting almost a career high from 3. He’d play excellent next to KAT cause both can play inside and outside and move the ball or play make. Randle also played with DAngelo Russell in LA for 2 seasons, where they had a really good connection. DSJ could also be a sneaky good pick up if they can get him comfortable and confident. Not to mention Minny one of the worst records in the league currently and if they are any hope of making the playoffs they need to make a trade.
When Thibs was in Minnesota he was the one who traded Rubio away! If he didn’t like how Ricky ran his offense then, I doubt he likes how he’d run it now
Thibs said this after trading Rubio to the Jazz.
Ricky did a good job here; we’re happy for him,” Thibodeau told reporters in a conference call, “We wish him well. He made a number of contributions to our team, our organization and community and we certainly appreciate that.
I don’t think it’s that he didn’t want him to run the offence it’s that the team just wanted a change in direction. Rubio was there with Dunn LaVine Wiggins and KAT and then they just signed Jimmy Butler, got Taj Gibson and wanted Jeff Teague.
You don’t hear a lot of coaches publicly rip players after they are traded.
The Wolves should trade their only veteran for one year of an ISO heavy PF? Good one chief.
I don’t expect Simons to really step up & I don’t think he has progressed as much as he should have since being drafted
With all of their injured players, it could be another lost season for Portland.
But their biggest problems right now are on defense. Melo and Kanter have to be one of the worst defensive C/PF duos in the entire NBA right now.
Wolves might do better if they made Rubio player-GM-HC. Sounds like a bunch, but he couldn’t do much worse.
Wolves first need IS a new coach
I personally picked Minnesota to be the worst team in the West, so it would be pretty surprising for them to fire their young coach for them being bad. Losing James Johnson was a tough loss, their guards have been bad, and they havent had one of their only good defenders for half of their games, with Okogie having missed time. They really need help on the wing, and defensively at the 4, and probably should figure out a better guard rotation. I would also say they need help defensively at the 5 behind KAT. McDaniels may be able to give them some of what they would get with James Johnson, but he hasnt played enough, and is obviously super young. I didnt expect him to be there for them. Thought they could grab someone like Xavier Tillman with their 33rd pick, if they kept it, depending on how the board went, and he has been really good for Memphis so far
Yes, their HC is clueless. The mere fact that their highest IQ player has to make a statement like this when the HC hears and sees no evil is telling.
But its also true that the roster remains as poorly constructed as ever, despite their GM getting the 1st overall in the past draft, and trading away their next 1st.
Minny does need a PF. Not sure Randle is a good fit there though. Randle likes to handle the ball. He needs to do that less. And he needs to play with D n 3 wing. He’s playing much better this yr. His ast are up and he’s passing more. He’s a 4 who likes to play like a 3. I think he can be offense off the bench for Clippers. He can dominate the second unit. And he’s playing for a ring. I would take Morris back. He can start with Toppin and be the vet with reason for us. He’s more a team offense system player. And plays D and shoots. Much better fit for us.
Williams and Morris >>>> Randle and Smith. I’ll even throw in a 2nd rd pick.