Josh Minott created excitement among Timberwolves fans with his G League highlights, but he knows he still has a lot to prove at the NBA level, writes Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic. The second-year small forward understands that nothing will be given to him as he tries to make an NBA breakthrough, so he’s been approaching Summer League play the same way he did as a rookie.
“Last year, had no respect. This year, no respect,” Minott said. “I’m just trying to go out there and just show what I can do, show the coaching staff.”
The 45th pick in the 2022 draft, Minott impressed scouts with his athleticism, but he saw limited playing time in college and shot just 14% from three-point range. The Wolves took a chance on him because president of basketball operations Tim Connelly believed his energy, play-making and defense could help him develop into an NBA player.
Minnesota needs someone to replace Taurean Prince, who was lost to the Lakers in free agency, and Minott hopes to seize that opportunity. Krawczynski states that Minott has been working out regularly at the team facility, and the Wolves are giving him challenging defensive assignments during Summer League.
“They’re not trying to see me come down and jack five 3s,” Minott said. “They’re trying to see me come down and lock up their best player and stuff like that, cut, a lot of off-ball actions, screening, rolling, slipping, being able to knock down a corner 3 if need be. Overall, in terms of what I can do, it’s whatever a team’s missing.”
There’s more on the Timberwolves:
- Minnesota signaled that Anthony Edwards is the centerpiece of its future by giving him a max extension, but the front office hasn’t committed to surrounding him with a roster that complements his skills, observes Michael Rand of The Star Tribune. The Wolves appear to be headed into another season with Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert, whom Rand views as an awkward combination with each other and with Edwards. Rand believes a Towns trade is inevitable within the next year to rebuild the draft assets that were drained in the Gobert deal and to possibly to find a younger point guard to replace Mike Conley.
- Senior VP of basketball operations Matt Lloyd reportedly attended a Tandem Sports free agent workout on Tuesday featuring Elfrid Payton, Justin Jackson, Chasson Randle and Ignas Brazdeikis, per Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News and SKOR North (Twitter link). The Wolves also are said to have watched Harry Giles and Dion Waiters in Las Vegas, two more players attempting NBA comebacks, Wolfson adds.
- In case you missed it, we recently passed along details on the new contracts signed by Troy Brown, Shake Milton and Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
Rory Maher contributed to this post.
I know it’s trendy to talk about KAT to Knicks. Since he’s from the area. But to me. I rather have Rudy. He’s a better fit and is a better team player. Not on the KAT bandwagon.
I think a Gobert to NY trade makes a lot of sense for both sides. Thibs would love the defensive anchor and NY could shed some contracts. I could see the base of a deal being Gobert for Fournier and Robinson. Minny would probably be trying to get Quickly or one of NY’s four 1sr round picks in 2024 as well.
The Timberpuppies are pathetic and an embarrassment to the NBA since 1989. Glen Taylor and his predecessor owners through the years have systematically placed inept idiots in charge of the teams basketball operations and they have never failed to disappoint fans through their: drafts, trades, free agent signings and selection of coaches. The latest in charge, whether in a feeble attempt to impress the new owners (A-Rod & Lore), or in a vein attempt to finally deliver an NBA caliber performance from this depressing team for the outgoing owner Glen Taylor, actually put on display his desperation by making a trade with the Utah Jazz for Center Rudy Gobert. The cost was merely 4 established NBA players, the player chosen with the 2022 first round draft choice ( A Young Center) FOUR MORE First Round Draft Choices every other year from 2023 through 2029 and the right for Utah to exchange places with the Timberpuppies in the 2026 Draft. All this for what is now a 31 year old Center. Guess what, like other moves made by this organization it was not only a dismal failure but tied up the team’s future opportunity to add and develop talent through 2029. Looking ahead, in 2029, Gobert will be 37 years old and it is doubtful he will still be a starter in the NBA, if indeed he is even in the NBA. Clearly, to outside observers, despite the “brilliant” moves by Timberpuppy management to coddle KAT by bringing in his buddy D’Angelo Russell and now Gobert, (which pushes KAT from Center to Power Forward), the problem is not the players that surround KAT, but in reality is KAT himself. It is time to throw in the towel.
You’re miserable. Find a new hobby.
Anybody who has followed the Timberpuppies is miserable.
My guy is writing essays now, must be deep in that bottle early!
Getting in form for my upcoming book.
Gobert and KAT seemed like an awkward combination from the start, and the early returns haven’t been great. Still, they haven’t really been healthy together for more than a handful of games. So, it hasn’t yet failed, and, in any event, two things are fairly certain:
1) MIN is going to give the combination every chance to succeed. As they should btw. More than a month or two. The trade deadline would be the absolute earliest capitulation.
2) When it’s clear it’s failed, it will almost certainly be KAT – not Gobert – that’s traded. Making the Gobert trade, coming off a playoff season, is MIN’s FO saying to the World (in the loudest possible terms) that KAT can’t anchor a defense at the level needed to win in the playoffs. Nothing that happens with the combination is going to change that assessment of KAT.
You can’t refer to KAT and Defense in the same sentence.