Comment opinions please!!

Does this approach make sense? What would you do differently? What are your favorite pieces to the puzzle?

Quick Note, I did a lottery simulation for who picks where. It went like this:

SAS #1, CHA #2, DET #3, POR #4 (goes to TOR), and HOU #5

SAS - Victor Wembanyama

CHA - Scoot Henderson

DET - Brandon Miller

POR - Ausar Thompson

HOU - Amen Thompson

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NBA Draft

DAL selects SG/SF Gradey Dick out of Kansas with the 10th overall pick (sent to MIN via trade)

Draft PG Reece Beekman out of Virginia with the 53rd overall pick acquired from NYK.

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Front Office & Organizational Decisions

Immediately begin discussions with Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels regarding long term contracts - possibly max deals for BOTH. Negotiations do not need to immediately result in pen to paper, but have the paperwork and details drafted for whenever necessary during the season or first thing spring of 2024. Give Edwards and McDaniels whatever they want to make them happy, and solidify them as your two franchise cornerstones for the next 5+ years.

Waive PG Jordan McLaughlin. J-Mac was a huge let down this year and just couldn't seem to find comfort with the roster.

Offer Chris Finch a long term head coach contract (5 years, $25 million).

Keep the Association white home and Icon blue away jerseys for another year. Use "Night Wolf" for Statement, "MPLS Lakers" for Classic, and "Stone Arch" for City edition jerseys. City addition jerseys accompanied by customized "St. Anthony Falls" court.

https://twitter.com/kiddesign/status/1583248534673174529/photo/1

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Trades To Make

It's finally time to part ways with MIN's former franchise cornerstone. Send Karl-Anthony Towns to NYK in a three team trade with NYK and DAL in exchange for Immanuel Quickley, Evan Fournier, 2023 #10 overall pick via DAL (post-draft), and the 2025, 2027, and 2029 first round picks via NYK. Anthony Edwards officially has the keys to the franchise. MIN also sends Wendell Moore Jr. to DAL in the three team blockbuster.

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Free Agent Signings

Re-sign Naz Reid to a 3 year, $42 million contract. Reid was one of the best players all season, and a crucial bench mismatch for most teams. He is an integral piece to MIN's future.

Re-sign Nickeil Alexander-Walker to a 3 year, $18 million contract. NAW impressed the league during the playoffs with his tenacious defense against Denver as well as his ability to hit timely shots. He will be a key two-way role player for MIN in 2023-24 and beyond.

Sign Bruce Brown with the non-taxpayers MLE of 1 year, $12.5 million. Brown, an integral supporting piece to DEN's 2023 playoff run, provides MIN with a fast-paced and physical demeanor for the bench rotation.

Sign Jared Butler to a two-way contract. Butler has shown flashes in his stints with UTA and OKC, and provides the talented player development staff a reclamation project for both Iowa and Minnesota roles.

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Timberwolves Ideal Starting Lineup

Conley Jr., Edwards, McDaniels, Anderson, Gobert

Bench Rotation

Quickley, Alexander-Walker, Brown, Prince, Reid

Reserves/Iowa Wolves Assignments

Beekman (Iowa), Butler (Iowa) Dick, Minott, Shittu (Iowa)

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Breakdown

The Timberwolves first round series loss to Denver should be seen as a necessary push to finally parting ways with Towns. KAT still sees himself as a franchise player - in many ways he still is. But, with the rapid emergence of Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels, MIN is forced to pick a timeline. Edwards and Towns haven't particularly acclimated to each other since Edwards' selection back in 2020. Although the experiment of pairing two all-star caliber players with savvy defensive vets hasn't fully panned out yet, it is still too early to call it a failure. Towns missed 53 games this season and one could argue that had he remained healthy, the Timberwolves would have defended home court in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

But...this is not how things transpired. The MIN front office needs to cash in on Towns' high value despite the struggles this season, and compensate for the excruciating draft pick losses from the Gobert deal last summer.

Now, MIN has one clear superstar and a tremendously well-rounded supporting cast for him to develop around, blending proven veterans leaders with some of the league's top young talent. Additionally, MIN has now molded their identity of the future: fast-paced offense and tenacious three level defending. The Timberwolves enter the future with a back court of Edwards and Quickley, which could quickly (no pun intented) turn into a top 2-3 back court in the NBA. Those two surrounded by McDaniels, Alexander-Walker, and Naz Reid - all under 25 years old - gives the hungry MIN fanbase a wildly entertaining group that should have championship aspirations in 4-5 seasons.

2023-24 PREDICTION: 45-37 (6th seed), competitive first round series with high upset potential