Category: Timberwolves

NBA Notebook: Luka Doncic, D’Angelo Russell, Kyle Lowry, Cam Reddish, Jacque Vaughn

Luka Doncic’s MVP case, trade talks on D’Angelo Russell and Kyle Lowry, Jacque Vaughn’s Coach of the Year case, and free agent stock watch.

As the calendar flips to 2023, Luka Doncic is in the midst of a historical run to bolster his MVP case, while the Brooklyn Nets have remained the league’s hottest team overall, led by Jacque Vaughn.

With that in mind, this week’s NBA notebook includes Vaughn’s early Coach of the Year candidacy and Jeremy Sochan’s free throw revelation from our own Michael Scotto, the latest trade rumors commentary on D’Angelo Russell and Kyle Lowry from our capologist Yossi Gozlan, a free agency stock watch from our Frank Urbina and a look inside Doncic’s historical run by Alberto De Roa.

Jaden McDaniels: ‘I could be one of the best two-way players in the NBA’

Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels talks expectations after the Rudy Gobert trade and striving for All-Star and All-Defensive Team honors.

Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels is starting to scratch the surface of his ceiling and show why Minnesota has made him virtually untouchable in trade talks with rival teams over the years.

McDaniels and Anthony Davis are the only two players with 30 or more steals and blocks this season. McDaniels is holding opponents to a 51.8 defensive field goal percentage at the rim. Per PBP Stats, among the 68 players who have defended at least 95 attempts at the rim, opponents are only shooting worse against two former Defensive Player of the Year winners, Draymond Green and Giannis Antetokounmpo. McDaniels also ranks tied for fourth in contested threes (3.7).

McDaniels discussed Minnesota’s adjustment after the Rudy Gobert trade, expectations for the Timberwolves this season, striving to be an All-Star and All-Defensive Team player, and much more in our HoopsHype interview.

Top NBA Trade Candidates Eligible After December 15

HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto and Yossi Gozlan discuss top trade candidates who can be traded starting December 15 on the podcast.

HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto and Yossi Gozlan discuss the top trade candidates who can be moved starting December 15th on the latest HoopsHype podcast episode.

For more interviews with players, coaches, and media members, be sure to like and subscribe to the HoopsHype podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and anywhere else you listen to podcasts. Listen to the podcast above or check out some snippets of the conversation in a transcribed version below.

Top trade candidates on each NBA team this season

Reporting on the top trade candidates for all 30 NBA teams from HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.

NBA executives are beginning their due diligence for the upcoming trade market with December 15th approaching, the first day players who signed offseason contracts can be traded.

Below is the latest intel HoopsHype has gathered on the top trade candidates for all 30 NBA teams.

NBA executives poll: Who are the top breakout candidates for the 2022-23 season?

NBA executives predict who will be the top breakout players of the 2022-23 season in a poll by HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.

Which players will make the top leaps in their games this year?

HoopsHype polled 20 NBA executives to gauge who will be the top breakout candidates this season. Each executive was asked to list his Top 3 candidates for a breakout campaign.

Most of the talent evaluators prioritized young players who will see an increased role. Others selected younger players who could become All-Stars for the first time.

After receiving the feedback from the executives, the voting results were tabulated, with the top player receiving five points, the second receiving three points, and the third receiving one point for each ballot. Below are the results.

NBA offseason winners and losers; EuroBasket stars who can join NBA

HoopsHype’s winners and losers of the 2022 NBA offseason and potential overseas players to monitor following the EuroBasket tournament.

HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, Yossi Gozlan, and Dionysis Aravantinos discuss the winners and losers of the 2022 NBA offseason and react to the end of the EuroBasket Tournament with potential overseas players to monitor on the latest edition of the HoopsHype podcast.

For more interviews with players, coaches, and media members, be sure to like and subscribe to the HoopsHype podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and anywhere else you listen to podcasts. Listen to the podcast above or check out some snippets of the conversation in a transcribed version below.

NBA execs poll: Luka Doncic top player to build around; Evan Mobley, Anthony Edwards Top 5

NBA executives share which players under 25 they’d build around in a HoopsHype poll conducted by Michael Scotto.

In January of 2022, HoopsHype polled 15 NBA executives and asked them to rank their top five players under 25 years old by the start of the NBA season to build around. We have repeated the exercise ahead of the 2022-23 season.

Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic was the unanimous first choice among the NBA executives polled, while Evan Mobley and Anthony Edwards were two of the top risers.

Four new players earned votes while three players fell in the ranking.

In our scoring system, the top player received five points, the second received four points, the third received three points, the fourth received two points, and the fifth player received one point for each ballot.

The results of the poll are listed below.

NBA Rumors: Jamal Murray, Reggie Bullock, Lakers, Celtics, Timberwolves

HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto speaks with Jamal Murray and Reggie Bullock and reports new updates on the Lakers, Celtics, and Timberwolves.

This offseason, several teams in the West have made moves to help themselves strive to be championship contenders.

The Denver Nuggets reshaped their roster and hope the return of Jamal Murray will propel them to title contenders in the West. The Dallas Mavericks look to maintain their standing as a contender following the loss of Jalen Brunson in free agency. The Minnesota Timberwolves acquired Rudy Gobert in a blockbuster trade to form a dynamic frontcourt tandem with Karl-Anthony Towns.

With that in mind, the latest HoopsHype intel report includes conversations from the NBA’s Vegas Summer League with Murray on his upcoming return and Mavericks swingman Reggie Bullock discussing how the team will recover from the loss of Brunson. Plus, new updates on the Lakers, Celtics, and Timberwolves.

Timberwolves’ projected depth chart with Rudy Gobert

When new executives come into a situation, there is usually a seismic shift in personnel. That is exactly what happened for the Minnesota Timberwolves. New president Tim Connelly made his mark immediately by trading several first-round picks along …

When new executives come into a situation, there is usually a seismic shift in personnel. That is exactly what happened for the Minnesota Timberwolves. New president Tim Connelly made his mark immediately by trading several first-round picks along with Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverley, Jarred Vanderbilt and Leandro Bolmaro to acquire Rudy Gobert.

Coming off one of the best finishes in franchise history, Minnesota is hoping to take the next step forward with the addition of the three-time Defensive Player of the Year.

This is how the rotation should look for them this coming season…

NBA rumors: Kevin Durant, Rudy Gobert, OG Anunoby, Gary Trent Jr, Donte DiVincenzo, more

HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reports on Kevin Durant, Rudy Gobert, OG Anunoby, Gary Trent Jr, Donte DiVincenzo, and Royce O’Neale.

With most of the top players off the board, the trade market has come to the forefront with a blockbuster Rudy Gobert trade, and now all eyes are on Kevin Durant’s next potential destination following his recent trade request.

Below is the latest intel gathered by HoopsHype on trade talks surrounding Durant, Gobert, OG Anunoby, and Gary Trent Jr. Plus, behind-the-scenes notes on the free agent decisions of Donte DiVincenzo, Jae’Sean Tate, Royce O’Neale, Chris Boucher, and Thaddeus Young.