The Dane Moore NBA Podcast

On today’s show, Dane is joined by Jace Frederick of the Pioneer Press to discuss what they are looking for in the season opener against Oklahoma City. But to start the episode, the focus is on the often overlooked Jordan McLaughlin. Jace shares what he learned when writing his preseason feature story on McLaughlin.— The NBA moving away from traditional point guards— If DLo were to eventually depart, could McLaughlin take on a bigger role?— The stats for and against McLaughlin— How does the starting 5 look in the opener and how much do they play together?— Will the Wolves be able to punish the Thunder’s lack of size?— How we think the Thunder will try to match up with the Wolves Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today’s show, Dane is joined by Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic live at Forgotten Star Brew Company to preview the Timberwolves season by looking at how the Wolves season might break right and how it could break wrong. And then they take listener questions.— How the season breaks right: Towns defends, DLo is Brooklyn DLo, Ant makes the leap, Gobert proves to be underutilized in Utah— How the season breaks wrong: Loaded Western Conference, Ant has too much on his shoulders, KAT and Gobert missing training camp proves costly, Gobert ruffles feathers, McDaniels continues to struggle with foul trouble— A potential DLo extension— The national media perception of the Wolves— Much more Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today’s show, Dane is join by Timberwolves beat writer Chris Hine of The Star Tribune to preview Anthony Edwards’ season by discussing the feature Chris wrote on Edwards in Sunday’s paper. From there, the conversation moves to a discussion about the first look at the Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert pairing in Friday’s final preseason game against the Brooklyn Nets.— Why Edwards wanted to add weight in the offseason— Where will Edwards’ offseason work translate to the court this season— A look at the inefficient elements of Edwards’ game a year ago— What stood out in the first look of KAT-Gobert— Why the surrounding pieces also need to adjust to the new structure of the roster, now that Gobert is in the mixSign up today for a 14-day free trial of Aura’s digital security at Aura.com/Dane Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today’s show, Dane is joined by Kyle Theige to go through the Wolves bench and give a “stock up” or “stock down” grade. The roles most open for change entering training camp were on the bench, meaning a preseason that exceeded expectations or underwhelmed could have shifted the bench pecking order entering the season. Dane and Kyle dig into where those shifts may have happened. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today’s show, Dane is joined by Britt Robson of MinnPost to react to the Wolves fourth preseason win, this time again over the Los Angeles Lakers. Naz Reid! Then, Dane and Britt try to zoom out by looking at John Hollinger from The Athletic’s Timberwolves season preview — so as to parse what elements they agree with and also the parts that were maybe a little too black and white. Topics include:— Naz Reid’s serious preseason splash— Almost every player who has played in preseason consistently producing— Hollinger’s idea of the Rudy Gobert trade being a bet on Karl-Anthony Towns’s prime rather than Anthony Edwards’s prime— A no-longer-immediate reaction to the Gobert trade, and how Tim Connelly made sense of this move— The role ownership played in making the team immediately competitive, and what the motivations of that might be— Another look at how the Gobert trade boosts D’Angelo Russell’s value, on the court and with the salary cap— Disagreeing with the idea that this Wolves roster lacks depthSign up today for a 14-day free trial of Aura’s digital security at Aura.com/Dane Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today’s show, Dane is joined by Jace Frederick of The Pioneer Press to discuss the top of “things that could swing the Wolves season — for better or worse”. Dane and Jace each put together a list of five seemingly smaller things that could have a profound impact on how this Wolves season plays out, ranging from individual players, concept execution and even coaching. Some topics include:— The level of defender Anthony Edwards proves to be in a new concept— How health impacts a team that ran pretty well in the health category last season— Chris Finch as a tactician— Kyle Anderson’s ability to guard different types of bigs— Rudy Gobert’s ability to punish small players on switches— The impact of Bryn Forbes’ shooting— Much more Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today’s show, Dane is joined by Chris Hine of The Star Tribune to discuss Karl-Anthony Towns making his preseason debut on Sunday evening against Los Angeles Clippers. KAT’s debut takes a lot of the focus, but we also get into Naz Reid stringing together a few strong preseason performances and Bryn Forbes’ shooting standing out as a clear training camp. positive.— Tweaks to KAT’s style of play we noticed in seeing him for the first time down weight— Finch switching up defensive coverages by half with KAT (drop vs. high wall)— Naz Reid making a case to be in the rotation, and standing out in what we typically think of as the Jarred Vanderbilt role on offense— Forbes really seems to fit— Have we changed our Nowell/Rivers/Forbes backup guard pecking order?— The Clippers present an interesting regular season/playoff matchup for the WolvesSign up today for a 14-day free trial of Aura’s digital security at Aura.com/Dane Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today’s show, Dane is joined in Las Vegas by Kyle Theige. Dane and Kyle spent the day in Las Vegas watching the Wolves victory over the Los Angeles Lakers but also had the chance to watch Rudy Gobert’s fellow frenchmen, Victor Wembanyama, play in front of an American audience for the first time.This episode format is a little different than what we’ve done before. It’s an episode full of audio clips from Chris Finch and Wolves players. The goal was to try and capture how this Wolves group is coming together now two weeks into training camp. You’ll hear audio from the locker room from Rudy Gobert, Anthony Edwards, Austin Rivers and Chris Finch, along with some audio from the projected No. 1 overall pick about his relationship with Gobert.Sign up today for a 14-day free trial of Aura’s digital security at Aura.com/Dane Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today’s show, Dane is joined by Jace Frederick of the St. Paul Pioneer Press to give their takeaways from the Wolves preseason opener in Miami on Tuesday night. In a game that Karl-Anthony Towns Rudy Gobert and D’Angelo Russell all sat out, what stood out from the players who did play and got the chance to take on a bigger role?— Anthony Edwards functioning as the point guard in DLo’s absence— Jaylen Nowell getting the start and looking like the most talented bench guard on the roster— Naz Reid and Nate Knight get the chance to play significant minutes in Towns and Gobert’s absence— A commitment to the “high wall” concept with Gobert not playing— Kyle Anderson and Taurean Prince showcase the skills that could make them valuable this seasonSign up today for a 14-day free trial of Aura’s digital security at Aura.com/Dane Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today’s show, Dane is joined by Britt Robson live at Falling Knife Brewing Co. to discuss the Timberwolves season ahead and to take questions from the attendees of the live show. The conversation ranges from our growing understanding of the Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert dynamic to pressing questions that linger about the season ahead.— What have we learned about the KAT-Gobert dynamic in the first week of training camp in spite of the absence of Towns— Who replaces the Patrick Beverley and Jarred Vanderbilt leadership by fire role?— What player on the current roster is most likely to make a Vanderbilt-like leap from last season?— What player currently on the roster is most likely to not make the regular season roster?— Many more questions from listenersSign up today for a 14-day free trial of Aura’s digital security at Aura.com/Dane Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today’s show, Dane is joined by Chris Hine of The Star Tribune to discuss Karl-Anthony Towns joining Timberwolves training camp on Monday after missing the first week of camp with an illness. Then, with the Wolves set to play the Miami Heat on Tuesday and the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday, Dane and Chris get into what they’ll be looking for in the first week of preseason games.— Does Karl-Anthony Towns play?— Jaden McDaniels against real competition— Rotation hints— What they show schematically on defense— How does Ant gaining 10 pounds this offseason show up in his game?— MoreSign up today for a 14-day free trial of Aura’s digital security at Aura.com/Dane Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today’s show, Dane is joined by Kyle Theige to give ten bold predictions for the upcoming season. Five picks each that go out on a limb, ranging from players getting traded to players setting single-season franchise records.— D’Angelo Russell contract extension?— Will Naz Reid be on the team all season?— Will the franchise’s single-season 3-point or block record be broken this year?— What are Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert’s odds of making All-NBA?— An unexpected player inserting themselves into an important bench role— Chris Finch as Coach of the Year? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today’s show, Dane is joined by Britt Robson of MinnPost to discuss takeaways from the Wolves’ first week of training — ranging from Media Day into the weekend prior to Tuesday’s preseason opener. The final practice of the week on Thursday was the most telling. So Dane and Britt focus on what Micah Nori had to say to the media about the Wolves’ defensive concept changes this season, what Kyle Anderson had to say about acclimating himself into a new roster, and what Anthony Edwards had to say about adding muscle mass this summer and his All-Defensive Team aspirations this season. A lot of discussion about the defensive concept as that comes further and further into focus, along with talk about our growing understanding of how the rotation might play out.Sign up today for a 14-day free trial of Aura’s digital security at Aura.com/DaneTry out Land & Lore’s men’s skincare line at Land-Lore.com, and use the promo code “DaneNBA” for 15% off at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today’s show, Dane is joined by Jace Frederick of The St. Paul Pioneer Press. The episode begins with Dane putting together the first breadcrumbs of what we can expect from the Timberwolves defense this season, with audio from Chris Finch and Rudy Gobert. Then, Jace joins to discuss Day Two of training camp, focusing on how the Wolves’ bench might shake out — specifically focused on Jaylen Nowell’s role. From there, Dane in Jace get into the upside of this roster, listing three key factors that would need to click for the Wolves to be a 55- to 60-win team this season. What is the Wolves’ path to taking Phoenix Suns-level leap? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today’s show, Dane is joined by Kyle Theige to share their immediate reactions from 2022-23 Minnesota Timberwolves Media Day. In addition to both Tim Connelly and Chris Finch, fifteen players spoke at Media Day, so Dane and Kyle parse out the most telling comments made from Monday’s media availability. Today’s topics include:— Tim Connelly’s long-term view of the current roster.— D’Angelo Russell’s role during a contract year.— Easing Rudy Gobert into his new situation.— Candid comments from a handful of new acquisitions (most notably Austin Rivers, Kyle Anderson, and Eric Paschall).Sign up today for a 14-day free trial of Aura’s digital security at Aura.com/DaneTry out Land & Lore’s men’s skincare line at Land-Lore.com, and use the promo code “DaneNBA” for 15% off at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today’s show, Dane is joined by Kyle Theige from SKORNorth to set the scene for Timberwolves training camp, which is set to start next Monday. Topics today include...— Running through the 20 players under contract for training camp— Discussing the potential for players to be cut/waived in favor of a player on a two-way contract or training camp deal— Players in contract years— Recapping how the Wolves’s coaching staff and front office evolved over the summer— The players we’re most excited to hear from at Media DaySign up today for a 14-day free trial of Aura’s digital security at Aura.com/Dane Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today’s show, Dane is joined by Britt Robson of MinnPost to discuss Britt’s recent Q+A with Chris Finch. Britt and Finch hit on many, many topics in their 70-minute conversation, so Dane and Britt try to highlight telling takeaways. Essentially, this is an episode of peeling apart the layers of what Finch told Britt so as to be able to find breadcrumbs that could help forecast the season ahead. Here were a few of the major topics covered...— Finch’s hints at how the Karl-Anthony Towns Rudy Gobert fit will mesh, both on offense and defense— What is lost by letting Patrick Beverley and Jarred Vanderbilt go, and how their roles can be replicated— Finch on how the new roster construction impacts D’Angelo Russell— The ways Finch wants to further unlock Anthony Edwards— Finch’s thoughts on new roles for the role playersSign up today for a 14-day free trial of Aura’s digital security at Aura.com/DaneTry out Land & Lore’s men’s skincare line at Land-Lore.com, and use the promo code “DaneNBA” for 15% off at checkout Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today’s show, Dane is joined by Jace Frederick of The St. Paul Pioneer Press to discuss which Timberwolves players found their way onto CBS Sports and ESPN’s top 100 lists. Dane and Jace go position-by-position to discuss where Rudy Gobert, Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards and D’Angelo Russell rank amongst their positional peers. And discuss whether or not Jaden McDaniels has a case to be one of the top 22 small forwards in the league this season.— Questions comparing Gobert to Anthony Davis and Bam Adebayo— Is it ridiculous that Zion Williamson ranks above KAT at power forward?— Is KAT at 20 on CBS Sports’s overall list too low? Is KAT 13th on ESPN’s overall list too high?— How does Ant compare to Donovan Mitchell, Zach LaVine and Bradley Beal (all of whom rank above him)? How does Ant compare to Jordan Poole and Tyler Herro (who rank below him)— D’Angelo Russell not making CBS Sports’s top 100 list or their top 22 point guard list. What is the case to have DLo be in those ranking above players like De’Aaron Fox, Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Haliburton?Try out Land & Lore’s men’s skincare line at Land-Lore.com, and use the promo code “DaneNBA” for 15% off at checkout.If you’d like to participate in our Prize Picks promotion, Prize Picks will give you a $100 signup bonus if you use the promo code “DANE” when creating an account. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today’s show, Dane is joined by Chris Hine of The Star Tribune to discuss his career as an openly gay sportswriter. Chris has worked as a traveling beat writer since 2009, for The Chicago Tribune covering Notre Dame football and the Chicago Blackhawks, and most recently for The Star Tribune as a Minnesota Timberwolves reporter. His job has taken him all over the country covering hundreds of players in his career. Two of those players from Chris’s beats — Andrew Shaw of the Blackhawks and Anthony Edwards of the Timberwolves — entered the public eye for videos that displayed homophobic language. In this episode, Chris describes the repair work he saw Shaw do in Chicago and the repair work he hopes Edwards can do in the Minnesota community.You can read Chris’s story with Andrew Shaw here. And you can read the reporting Chris has done in the wake of Edwards’s comments here, along with his interview with Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today’s show, Dane is joined by Kyle Thiege to discuss the burning questions they have in advance of Timberwolves training camp. What do we not know now that we may be able to learn about through access in training camp and by watching the games this preseason? Questions include...— How exactly will the Target Centers (KAT + Gobert) experiment work?— Where Does Jaylen Nowell fall in the playing time pecking order compared to Austin Rivers and Bryn Forbes?— How will Chris Finch’s rotation play out?— What will Chris Finch have to say about how aggressive the defensive scheme will be now that Rudy Gobert is in the mix?— Is Jaden McDaniels worth it?— How’s everyone’s jumper looking (specifically Kyle Anderson and Jaden McDaniels)?— Who is in charge of the locker room?— How often is D’Angelo Russell initiating the offense vs. how often Anthony Edwards is initiating the offense?Try out Land & Lore’s men’s skincare line at Land-Lore.com, and use the promo code “DaneNBA” for 15% off at checkout.If you’d like to participate in our Prize Picks promotion, Prize Picks will give you a $100 signup bonus if you use the promo code “DANE” when creating an account. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today's show, Dane is joined by Jace Frederick of The St. Paul Pioneer Press to discuss how the integration process of Rudy Gobert might play out this fall, both on the court and off the court. Dane and Jace discuss what they've seen from Gobert in FIBA play this summer, and get into what they think is and is not relevant from that play when compared to the NBA game. Additionally, some talk about how Gobert the person might integrate into the Wolves personality pecking order. Also some discussion of how the hurtful comments Anthony Edwards made about the LGBTQ+ might impact how he fits into the locker room as a leader this season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today’s show, Dane is joined by Andrew Schlecht — who covers the Oklahoma City Thunder for The Athletic — to discuss the Wolves and Thunder matching up twice in the first three games of the regular season. Not a game preview, but in light of the schedule coming out, this conversation serves as a way to think about how the two teams matchup with each other.— The Wolves soft schedule to start the season— How do OKC fans feel about opening the season in Minnesota? Do they think the Wolves are good?— The Chet Holmgren homecoming angle— Understanding who exactly is gonna start/be in the rotation for the Thunder?— Who guards who? How are the Wolves going to matchup with the Thunder and how will the Thunder chose to matchup with the Wolves— Will Finch put Gobert on Holmgren, and if so, would that be what the Thunder would prefer (pulling Gobert away from the basket)?Sign up today for a 14-day free trial of Aura’s digital security at Aura.com/Dane Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today’s show, Dane is joined by Britt Robson from MinnPost to discuss the elements of this new Timberwolves team that we are most interested in/excited to see once the season rolls around. Some of those topics include...— What players on the roster will serve as a connective tissue that enhance the new roster— How the Wolves matchup against the Western Conference elites early on in the season— The ways Finch might go about increasing Gobert’s role in the offense— Kyle Anderson as the 6th man, and who he will be able to play alongside— What Towns has prioritized in the offseason, so as to be able to fit into his new role/position— How much attention the Wolves will receive in the national mediaSign up today for a 14-day free trial of Aura’s digital security at Aura.com/Dane Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today’s show, Dane is joined in-studio by Timberwolves guard D’Angelo Russell. The early parts of the conversation cover the changes to the Wolves roster and organization this offseason — from the Rudy Gobert trade, to how this roster might fit together from a basketball standpoint and to the status of Russell being in a contract year. Other topics include:— Russell’s view on the fit of Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns— The nature of having four serious offensive weapons in the starting lineup— The lack of continuity Russell has had in his career, and the value he sees in being in one place for an extended period of time— Playing in a contract year— Reflecting on the Memphis series— Chris Finch’s style of coaching and the brand of basketball he wants his team to play— The emergence of Jaden McDaniels and Jaylen Nowell— A loaded Western Conference— The excitement surrounding the teamSign up today for a 14-day free trial of Aura’s digital security at Aura.com/Dane Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today’s show, Dane looks back on the Timberwolves offseason by taking listener questions on a handful of topics. Those topics include...— D’Angelo Russell and his perception in the national media versus his actual impact on the team— What does it mean to keep the “DLo salary slot”?— How the NBA’s new television deal will impact the salary cap, and specifically how that cash infusion will impact the perception of the contracts of Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert, along with the impending contract extensions coming for Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels— How much will the Wolves style of play evolve to looking something like the Jazz’s style of play?— Which teams are the best playoff matchup for the Wolves?— What player traded away in the Gobert deal would fit best on this current Wolves roster?For a 14-day free trial of Aura’s digital security, sign up at Aura.com/Dane Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today’s show, Dane is joined by Britt Robson from MinnPost to further discuss the Rudy Gobert addition after some time to reflect. Additional topics include the Austin Rivers signing, impressions of Wendell Moore Jr. and Josh Minott in Summer League and where Vegas has set the Wolves win total over/under for the upcoming season.Now with more time to let the Gobert deal sink in, Dane and Britt get in to more of the nitty-gritty of where Gobert’s impact will be felt most. What is Gobert’s expected impact on offense versus defense?The Rivers conversation is really more about what we expect the Wolves’ rotation to be? Where does Rivers rank in the pecking order compared to Bryn Forbes and Jaylen Nowell specifically?What stood out, for better or worse, from Moore Jr. and Minott’s Summer League performance. And where do those two fit in the Wolves pecking order at the moment?Vegas set the Wolves win total over/under at 49.5 (or 48.5 if you find the right book). What does that win total suggest about the perception of the Wolves in the Western Conference hierarchy? And how profitable is the idea of betting on the Wolves being a 50-win team this season? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today’s show, Dane is joined by Timberwolves owner Marc Lore. Dane and Marc recap a wild last six weeks for the Wolves — from the Tim Connelly hire to the Rudy Gobert trade, and make sure not to brush over the Karl-Anthony Towns super max extension.Marc also recaps a whirlwind of a first season as an owner, looks forward to Year 2, and explains the process of continuing to develop the culture he envisions in Minnesota. Also some new arena talk mixed in there.For a 14-day free trial of Aura’s digital security, sign up at Aura.com/Dane Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today’s show, Dane is joined by Kyle Theige following the Timberwolves first Summer League game in Las Vegas to give first impressions of the Summer League Wolves and to further get into some of the nuance of the Rudy Gobert trade.Dane and Kyle start by discussing Josh Minott’s mini-breakout performance in the Wolves first Summer League game in Vegas. Additionally getting into first impressions of Wendell Moore Jr. and where he might fit in the Wolves pecking order.From there, some focus on the strategy that went into the Gobert trade, specifically in regards to how the trade seems to have nullified a D’Angelo Russell problem (if there ever was one). Also, our first thoughts on how Chris Finch might handle rotating Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns. Will the goal be to have one of the two on the floor for all 48 minutes, or will Finch prioritize maximizing the time those two share the floor? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today's show we get into why the Timberwolves traded for Rudy Gobert. So much of the discourse in the days following the Gobert trade has been about why this was an overpay by the Wolves. But Wednesday's press conference introducing Gobert was the first time the Wolves's organization could comment on why they took this path that so many people seem to disagree with.On Wednesday, Tim Connelly and Chris Finch got the chance to speak on the record for the first time since the trade went down. And they detailed why they believe this makes sense for them. So on today's show we parse those answers in an effort to better understand the Wolves process. Why Connelly thought this was an expensive but reasonable price to pay and why Finch believes he can make the Gobert fit not only work but thrive in Minnesota. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today’s show, Dane is joined by Britt Robson of MinnPost to discuss Friday’s blockbuster Rudy Gobert trade, and to hit on the news of the Kyle Anderson signing. Dane and Britt get into the magnitude of the Gobert deal, highlighting the great upside this all-in move creates and also acknowledging the serious risk of the move given the load of outgoing assets to Utah.Many topics are breached from Gobert’s fit next to Karl-Anthony Towns, down to how Rudy Gobert might have the most profoundly positive impact on D’Angelo Russell of all people.— The fit of KAT and Gobert— Projecting how the Wolves offense and defense will rank next season— What is a realistic expectation for total wins next season— Attempting to quantify the value of what they gave up— How this move is the latest example of how the Wolves are operating in a very different manner under Marc Lore than they have under Glen TaylorFor a 14-day free trial of Aura’s digital security, sign up at Aura.com/Dane Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today’s show, Dane is joined by Memphis Grizzlies beat writer Chris Herrington of The Daily Memphian to discuss the Timberwolves signing of now-former Grizzly Kyle Anderson. Chris breaks down the four-year Anderson experience in Memphis and gives his opinion on why he believes Anderson is good fit in Minnesota, whether that be next to Karl-Anthony Towns in the starting lineup or as a backup forward for the Wolves.Additionally, some conversation about Tyus Jones ultimately choosing to stay in Memphis rather than pursuing a free agent deal from Minnesota or elsewhere.Enjoy getting to know Anderson from the Memphis perspective, both Anderson’s merits as a modern day forward and the elements of his game that can hold him back.For a 14-day free trial of Aura’s digital security, sign up at Aura.com/Dane Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today’s show, Dane is joined by Will DeBerg to review the film of Wendell Moore Jr. at Duke. Dane and Will discuss the elements of Moore's game that we feel confident will translate to the NBA, the elements that might translate and the elements that will likely never come to fruition at the next level.Additionally, some conversation on how Moore’s game might fit into the context of the Wolves current roster and stylistically how he might play when surrounded by players like Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today’s show, Dane is joined by Will DeBerg to review the film of Walker Kessler at Auburn. Dane and Will discuss the elements of Kessler’s game that we feel confident will translate to the NBA, the elements that might translate and the elements that will likely never come to fruition at the next level.Additionally, some conversation on how Kessler’s game might be able to fit next to Karl-Anthony Towns if/when the two share the floor — both in terms of how they could play off of each other offensively and how they might be able to play off of each other defensively. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today’s show, Dane is joined by Britt Robson of MinnPost to discuss Britt’s most recent column that reflects on the Timberwolves draft night and considers how Tim Connelly and Chris Finch might be building this roster out. The news of Taurean Prince’s new contract extension is discussed, as is Prince’s ideal role in the context of this evolving roster. Jaylen Nowell’s name has also been primed by Finch in a way that suggests a bigger role for the combo guard. So Dane and Britt also discuss what that role might look like, and how the rest of the roster might need to be adjusted to account for Nowell’s presence consistently in the rotation. Also some discussion about how Dejounte Murray might fit on the Wolves if he is traded for.— The Taurean Prince contract news— What a bigger role for Jaylen Nowell might look like— How the rookies might fit next to D’Angelo Russell if Russell is in fact on team next season— What Malik Beasley’s value on the trade market might be— Will the Wolves add a power forward in free agency or through a trade?— Dejounte Murray’s basketball and financial fit on the Wolves if he is traded for Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today’s show, we react to the introductory press conference for Walker Kessler, Wendell Moore Jr. and Josh Minott. In addition to getting into the rookies’ first media availability, we dive into Chris Finch’s first time speaking with reporters since the draft, which included some dialogue about some Wolves players already on the roster. Most notably Jaylen Nowell’s name being included in the “young core” along with Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels seemed noteworthy.So on top of getting into what Finch and Tim Connelly said about the new rookies, this episode will also focus on what we can take from Finch’s commentary on Nowell and also on Karl-Anthony Towns’ ability to sign a supermax extension in July.— Where will Moore Jr. fit in on the roster in terms of position?— What do the Wolves envision from Kessler on the offensive end?— How might they use Kessler defensively?— What might we be able to expect from Minott in Summer League?— What would a bigger role for Nowell mean for Malik Beasley?— Finch on how they plan to approach free agency and the trade market— KAT’s supermax coming up shortly Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today’s show, Dane is joined by Britt Robson of MinnPost to recap the Timberwolves swirling draft night and the swirl of rumors surrounding D’Angelo Russell. Dane and Britt start by discussing the approach Tim Connelly and the revamped front office took to the draft, and from there get in to the players they ultimately wound up with.The focus begins with Walker Kessler, the Wolves top pick on Thursday. The discussion is not exclusively about Kessler as a player but also about how this seems to signal a new view of how to build out the frontcourt around Karl-Anthony Towns.Wendell Moore Jr. is next up. A high character, high work-ethic player that really seems to fit Tim Connelly’s style in Denver. Also some discussion on Josh Minott, who seems to be the upside swing of the draft.Finally, some more D’Angelo Russell discussion. Obviously some discussion on the rumors surround DLo, but also on his fit on this team as they begin to play a different style of game from last season.For a 14-day free trial of Aura’s digital security, sign up at Aura.com/Dane Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today’s show, Dane is joined by Britt Robson of MinnPost to discuss the Timberwolves upcoming decision to be made in the draft and offseason, and to reflect on Andrew Wiggins and the Golden State Warriors winning the NBA championship. Topics include:— Andrew Wiggins’s performance in the Finals and what his next contract might look like— Which position (big/wing/guard) might the Wolves pursue with the No. 19 pick— Why drafting a “big” would be the conservative move. The difference in drafting EJ Liddell versus Mark Williams or Walker Kessler— Taking a higher upside swing on a wing or guard, and what the risk profile would be there— Taurean Prince and the incumbent power forward options— Some hypothetical D’Angelo Russell trades— Comparing Jayson Tatum’s growth before and after playing with Kyrie Irving to Anthony Edwards’s growth playing with D’Angelo RussellFor a 14-day free trial of Aura’s digital security, sign up at Aura.com/Dane Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today’s show, Dane is joined by Tim Connelly, the Timberwolves new president of basketball operations. As Connelly ramps up for the draft and free agency, the conversation touches on an array of topics.— Does Denver having the 21st and the Wolves having the 19th pick make the first round selection process easier?— What will the war room environment look like on draft night?— In what ways will having experience in a lead executive role help avoid mistakes?— What are Connelly’s areas of expertise (outside of scouting)?— Perception of Anthony Edwards from afar, and how has that perception evolved now as a part of the organization?— Have you seen Ant and Juancho Hernangomez’s new movie Hustle?— How can this team address size and physicality this offseason? External growth versus internal growth?— Can Karl-Anthony Towns play power forward next season, next to another more traditional center?For a 14-day free trial of Aura’s digital security, sign up at Aura.com/Dane Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today's show, Dane is joined by Britt Robson of MinnPost to react to the Tim Connelly introductory press conference and how Connelly might approach the offseason. Dane and Britt dig into the dynamics between Connelly and ownership, and also how they might approach D'Angelo Russell this offseason. Also some discussion on the Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals.For a 14-day free trial of Aura’s digital security, sign up at Aura.com/Dane Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today’s show, Dane is joined by Britt Robson of MinnPost to discuss Tim Connelly being named president of basketball operations, Karl-Anthony Towns making All-NBA, Malik Beasley’s future with the Wolves and what Andrew Wiggins is doing in the playoffs.With Connelly being named POBO on Monday, Dane and Britt reflect on the process that led to the hire. The Sachin Gupta and Chris Finch dynamics with Connelly. They also reflect on how the leadership core has shifted from Tom Thibodeau’s dismissal in 2018 to where it is today, just four years later.KAT making All-NBA is a deserving and impressive accomplishment for the 2021-22 season. It also opens up the possibility of signing a 4-year, $211 million supermax contract extension. That is discussed at length, along with other moves that Connelly could potentially make in his first few months on the job.Finally, Dane and Britt discuss Andrew Wiggins’s success in Golden State reaching a new peak in the conference finals. A discussion about why this has come together for Wiggins in Golden State and why it seemed unlikely he would ever hit this level had he stayed in Minnesota. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today’s show, Dane is joined by Kyle Theige to discuss Monday’s breaking news of the hiring of Tim Connelly away from the Denver Nuggets and to become the President of Basketball Operations for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Dane and Kyle give their instant reactions to the news that has been percolating over the last week. Topics covered in the conversation include:— Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez convert on their big-game hunting quest to land a top-notch executive— Connelly’s offseason to-do list— Sachin Gupta’s role going forward— The Finch and Connelly relationship— The Wolves set up to have max cap space in the summer of 2023 and what Connelly might be able to do with that— How this addition signals the influence and likely long-term impact of the Lore and Rodriguez as ownersFor a 14-day free trial of Aura’s digital security, sign up at Aura.com/Dane Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today’s show, Dane is joined by Adam Mares of DNVR Sports, who has covered Tim Connelly for eight years in Denver. Adam helps shed light on not only what Connelly has done from a roster construction standpoint in Denver to who he is as a person and leader.In this episode, you’ll be able to glean the Denver perspective of the move (disappointment), while also better understanding what Connelly’s strengths and weaknesses as a lead executive have been. Topics include...— The Denver perspective on losing their chief decision-maker in what is likely the most important summer of the Nikola Jokic era— How the rest of the league is viewing the tactics the Wolves are using to pry away Connelly, specifically using ownership stake as a carrot— Is this a bigger loss for Denver than it is a gain for Minnesota?— Connelly’s background coming from a basketball family in Baltimore— Connelly’s track record of establishing culture and finding gems in the draft, and more question marks about his trading tracking— Will Connelly influence the style of play?— Chris Finch and Tim Connelly’s personality similarities— How Connelly might round out his front officeFor a 14-day free trial of Aura’s digital security, sign up at Aura.com/Dane Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today’s show, Dane is joined by Britt Robson of MinnPost to discuss the report of the Timberwolves being in serious talks with Denver Nuggets president of basketball operations, Tim Connelly, to become the Wolves next president of basketball operations above Sachin Gupta. Dane and Britt discuss what might be attracting Connelly to join the organization and where Gupta and Chris Finch mix into this context.Additionally discussed is Britt’s most recent column on the offseason steps that can be taken to help sustain the success generated this past season. The focus there is on the D’Angelo Russell question mark that needs to be answered — in terms of a trade or contract extension — and also the lingering question of what the frontcourt will look like next season next to Karl-Anthony Towns.For a 14-day free trial of Aura’s digital security, sign up at Aura.com/Dane Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today’s show, Dane is joined by Wolves beat writer Jace Frederick of the St. Paul Pioneer Press to discuss watching the NBA playoffs through a Wolves lens. Dane and Jace discuss continuing to watch these NBA playoffs with an eye on what is proving to work and not work in the later rounds of the playoffs and asking themselves how far the Wolves are from being able to execute those elements of playoff-level basketball.Dane and Jace also discuss the success old friends Tyus Jones and Andrew Wiggins had or are having in a playoff environment. And finally they talk about the Kristaps Porzingis for Spencer Dinwiddie and Davis Bertans trade — how that’s help drive the Mavericks to the conference finals and how a similar style of trade could be a path the Wolves could take should they choose to move off of D’Angelo Russell’s max contract.For a 14-day free trial of Aura’s digital security, sign up at Aura.com/Dane Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today’s show, Dane is joined by Britt Robson of MinnPost to discuss his most recent column on the four people most responsible for making the 2021-22 Timberwolves season such an enjoyable ride. Then Dane and Britt get into discussing the second round of the NBA playoffs, hitting on the four series currently in the balance. Some topics today inclue:— Why Chris Finch’s presence receives the gold star for individual who made this Wolves season so enjoyable— Patrick Beverley changing the culture, and the risks overcome of bringing in a player and personality like Beverley brought— Why the Wolves really are now becoming their own version of “Houston North”— Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards embracing a pecking order that empowered each other— Looking at the four playoff series taking place and pondering how constructing a championship roster has continued to evolve Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today’s show, Dane is joined by Minnesota-native and Timberwolves superfan Craig Kilborn to reflect on one of the most enjoyable Wolves seasons in franchise history and to look ahead to what this summer and free agency might bring. The show starts as a reflection on the 2021-22 season and turns into quite the offseason deep dive on how and where the Wolves might be able to tweak the roster. Topics of the conversation include:— Craig’s background growing up in Minnesota and falling in love with Minnesota hoops— The environment at Target Center for the playoff series— Comparing this season to the Jimmy Butler year— Can KAT get back into the post and avoid foul trouble next season? And can he play power forward?— The type of point guard Craig would like to replace D’Angelo Russell with— Craig’s new podcast and YouTube channel— Craig’s top-5 movies of shows of all-time Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today’s show, Dane is joined by Michael Rand of The Star Tribune to discuss the news that Timberwolves play-by-play voice Dave Benz will not return to Bally Sports North’s broadcast team next season and to discuss his article on Bally’s new, stand-alone streaming service that will retail for $20 a month next season. The conversation, necessarily, also hits on the role of Wolves new ownership beginning to make significant changes the fan experience, the broadcast crew being but a first breadcrumb.— The role of Sinclair Broadcast Group, who owns Bally Sports, in the dysfunctional relationship between fans who want to watch the Timberwolves but have not had the opportunity with their current television provider— Is $20 a month a fair price point?— The frustration of our friend, Dave, losing his job— The role Timberwolves new ownership played in the Benz decision, as part of a larger plan to change the Timberwolves fan experience — on both television and in-person— How we are seeing the influence of Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez grow, and how their style is different than Glen Taylor’s— The role ownership might play in the D’Angelo Russell and other offseason decisions yet to come this summer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today’s show, Dane is joined by Britt Robson of MinnPost to discuss the Timberwolves exit interviews on Saturday morning and to do a too-early preview of the offseason. A lot of today’s conversation is targeted at the Wolves most meaningful pieces — D’Angelo Russell, Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards, Chris Finch and Sachin Gupta. Topics today include...— Attempting to have a rationale conversation about D’Angelo Russell fit on the Wolves roster and what his future, being extension eligible, might look like going forward— Reading the breadcrumbs of Sachin Gupta’s comments about what the Wolves might do to the roster this summer— Chris Finch’s reflections on the season and what he might want in terms of roster tweaks going forward— Karl-Anthony Towns’s persona vs. on-court performance— The potential tweaks to Anthony Edwards’s role for next season Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today’s show, Dane is joined by Kyle Theige of CanisHoopus to give immediate reactions from Game 6 and to reflect on the season that was. Dane and Kyle get into what we learned this season about this team and discuss what this team still has to learn themselves, here in the first step of their build.— Reflecting on a loss that stings in a season that exceeded expectations— These playoffs establishing who Anthony Edwards is becoming— Excitement about the future of Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels— The role of Chris Finch— D’Angelo Russell’s struggles in this series— Karl-Anthony Towns’ performance in this series and the supermax contract he could potentially sign this summer— Having a front row seat to watching the Timberwolves fanbase fall back in love with this team Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today’s show, we will do both a preview of Game 6 from the Wolves perspective, with audio clips from Chris Finch, Anthony Edwards and Malik Beasley, and then also have Keith Parish, who covers the Grizzlies, join the show to give some more perspective on where Memphis is at entering Game 6. Everything to get us ready for Friday’s elimination game.— Malik Beasley on why the Wolves feel like this series should already be over and the confidence of the group entering Game 6— Chris Finch on Memphis’s blueprint to winning Games 2, 3 and 5— Anthony Edwards on solving the rebounding issues and late-game offensive execution issues— Keith Parish joins to give the Memphis perspective entering Game 6— What are the Memphis and Minnesota x-factors that will need to come together for either team to win? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.