Timberwolves rookie guard Leandro Bolmaro plays fearlessly, head coach Chris Finch told Chris Hine of the Minneapolis Star Tribune and other media members this week. The 23rd pick in the draft, Bolmaro is expected to sign his rookie contract shortly.
“We love that about him. He competes, he’s bouncy, he just knows how to play basketball,” Finch said. “He moves well off the ball, fits in around all of the pieces we already have.”
We have more on the Timberwolves:
- Forward Taurean Prince, acquired in the Ricky Rubio deal with Cleveland, believes he’ll play all three frontcourt positions at some point this season, Hine adds in the same story. “The ball moves around and like coach said it gives a lot of opportunity to everybody,” Prince said. “Those are the best systems because everyone likes to play off each other and it maximizes everyone’s potential as well.”
- Jarred Vanderbilt officially signed his new three-year, $13.8MM contract on Wednesday. According to Keith Smith of Spotrac (Twitter link), the first-year salary is $4.05MM and he’ll get $4.374MM in 2022/23. Vanderbilt’s 2023/24 salary of $4.698MM is partially guaranteed at $300K. The contract also includes $162K in likely bonuses and $405K in unlikely bonuses, Smith adds.
- Jordan McLaughlin also inked his new three-year, $6.5MM deal this week. The first-year salary will be $2MM, Smith tweets. In 2022/23, he’ll receive $2.16MM. His 2023/24 salary of $2.32MM is non-guaranteed. The contract includes $100K in unlikely bonuses in all three seasons.
- A refocused Karl-Anthony Towns is one of the reasons for optimism in Minnesota, Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic writes. The past two seasons for the team’s top big man have been marred by injuries and personal tragedy. He’s been working on his game diligently this summer, which bodes well for his continued development. Anthony Edwards’ encore after a powerful finish to his rookie campaign, plus the ability of Finch to have a full off-season to prepare the team for the upcoming season, should also entice fans. Krawczynski delves into a number of topics in the mailbag, including the possibility of Malik Beasley or D’Angelo Russell taking a sixth-man role.
D’Angelo Russell taking a sixth-man role.
How?
Wolves want big 4
Towns
Edwards
DLo
Simmons
Hurry up and make the deal Sixers and TWolves.
DLo, T Prince, McDaniels, 1 first round pick and 2 second round picks for Ben Simmons, Isiah Joe and Jaden Springer.
Sixers then have
1. Russell. Maxey. Milton
2. Green. Curry. Korkmaz
3. Prince. Thybulle. Niang
4. Harris. McDaniels. Reed
5. Embiid. Drummond. Bassey
TWolves
1. Beverly. Springer
2. Edwards. Beasley. Joe
3. Okogie. Layman
4. Simmons. Vanderbilt
5. KAT. Reid
Sixers have to just take the loss and say they see a future with Dlo and hope to get him back to his best. Either way he gives you points and assists, can shoot the three well and has an iso game. Not to mention is great in the clutch.
We also get Prince who is a solid 3 and D forward and McDaniels who has a lot of hype as a stretch 4.
If it doesn’t work out atleast we have the youth of Maxey, Thybulle, MvDaniels, Reed, etc etc
TWolves, only emd up having to part with 1 first round pick and a couple seconds which is great for them. They have elite defence with Beverly and Simmons. Simmons also gives them some solid playmaking and should get the best out of KAT. Springer and Joe also come as some solid young depth in the guard positions.
TWolves would be a playoff team with a bright future. Sixers would remain a solid playoff team probably a 3/4th seed, with hopes for a push into the finals.
At this point there’s no point keeping Simmons and having him sink up the locker room and the chemistry and ruin the season.
Your not going to build up this trade value if he doesn’t want to be there. Just face facts and move on. Your not getting Dame or Beal or Fox or anyone of that ilk, let’s just move along
It is just hard to imagine how KAT can get any better… I mean he has been playing at an MVP level for about 5 years!!!
But, if he can get even better… can’t wait to see him play this year, that is for sure!!!
He definitely has had the roughest time possible the last couple years, just hope he can find his happiness back, that is the most important thing in life!
Never heard of MVP level players having so many losing seasons and not even making postseason
Now you learned something new, I am proud of you!
Think 2 major things hurt him from being a contender, wins and defence.
TWolves suck and you can’t be the most valuable player on the worst team, wouldn’t make any sense. However I think if they were to trade for Ben and with the addition of Beverly the teams defence would be so much better and they could be a playoff team. Then that’ll open up the conversation for sure. But the obviously claim will be why is he the MVP and not Ant or Ben who have made the major improvement to the teams results.
Twolves trade:
Russel, Okogie, Prince and a #1 (lottery protected) 24
for
Sixers : Simmons…
Remove the protections, swap Okogie for McDaniels and we give you a couple young back up guards in Springer and Joe then it’s a deal.
Would be a great deal for the Wolves and for the Sixers it ends all the drama around Ben
Nope Simmons is not that good. This is even an overpay.