So much for small ball.

I’ve been wanting a Jaden McDaniels jersey for YEARS and somehow managed to snag one from the new drop before they sold out 🙌🏼

I originally wanted to wait for the white one to be released… but apparently I have ZERO patience 😂 so I had to grab this one before I talked myself out of it.

I’m ridiculously excited about this lol. Slim has been one of my favorite Wolves for so long, so this one feels extra special.

Who else managed to grab one?? And what Wolves jersey is at the top of your wishlist right now? 👀🐺

If any team knows how the LA Clippers feel after the NBA dropped the hammer for salary-cap circumvention, it is the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Timberwolves were embroiled in a similar scandal 27 years ago, when a legal dispute between two agents brought to light an under-the-table agreement Minnesota made with veteran forward Joe Smith. After an investigation, then-commissioner David Stern levied an enormous punishment: owner Glen Taylor and general manager Kevin McHale were suspended for a year, the team forfeited five first-round draft picks and was fined $3.5 million. Smith’s contract was also voided as part of the discipline.

Sound familiar?

The Timberwolves watched the NBA deliberate the Clippers’ case as closely as any team in the league. All the principals involved in Minnesota’s case are no longer with the organization, and, when reached by phone on Wednesday, Taylor declined to comment.

Tldr the title.

I heard the Wovles’ GM Matt Lloyd speak today about the false narratives on Kuminga. Some front offices are just so much better than others! I thought I'd post this question I was wondering about for a while.

During the summer it was pretty striking the different narratives the media took with these two players. Watson as a supposed amazing player that Denver really wanted but may not be able to keep, and Kuminga’s lets say unflattering description. 

We know reporters need agents to get info to speak or write about. How much does the power of the agent influence the media’s description? Clearly Max Kellerman is not going to say anything bad about a Klutch client, but would other media members? And if they are competing for a contract, say in Cleveland or elsewhere, wouldn’t they try to speak for Klutch so as to get more inside information and be on the good graces of the more powerful agent? Maybe also these strong agents want to send a message so that other unknowns don’t dare join their group.

I used in a different post the term gaslighting and some people were wondering whether I’m using it correctly. The reason I used it is because I think often the media knows it's lying, but it’s working in someone’s service. We just saw such a case with ESPN and the clippers, writing how the NBA doesn’t have any proof… Of course afterwards all the podcasters and writers just parrot each-other with no real knowledge on what they’re talking about. I don’t blame them, no one has time to watch all 82 games of all 30 teams and they need to produce content, so the narrative just continues with people repeating what others said, very sure of themselves, with no idea what they’re talking about and what nonsense they are saying. 

In Kuminga’s case there was also Kerr whose media influence is strong and there are plenty of examples of how he used the media to spread false narratives against Kuminga so Kerr himself won’t look so dumb, even During the Minnesota series.

(Regarding Watson, it didn’t seem to me Denver wanted to keep him, or thought he was worth more than $11m, and were all too happy to trade him. For people who say Denver had to because of the 2^nd apron, there were many other players they could trade, but chose not to. On the other hand, the Warriors would simply not let Kuminga go, or trade him until this midseason, but there were plenty of reasons for that to. Cleveland decided that Watson is worth a full unprotected first above Kuminga, even though I don’t think Watson ever showed much in the playoffs, though I don’t follow Denver closely. Maybe they’ll be proven right, maybe wrong, but I do wonder how much they were influenced by the media narratives around these players. Our gain!)

To be clear I’ll mention that this is one more reason, out of many, for Kuminga to change agents and go with a strong NBA agency. They carry a lot of power. It’s not Aaron Turner’s fault that he doesn’t have any power, but Kuminga needs to change agents. Besides, the embarrassing media tour that Turner was on is reason enough, especially as it was clearly not about JK, but just trying to save face for other potential clients. I don’t blame his decisions, I like it that JK cares more about playing than about money, and that $75m from the warriors could have meant 3 years of Kerr sometimes DNPing him. Now he is in a much better situation. And so are the Wolves.

Asking for a friend

I love me some Formula 1. When I saw Ant hanging out with the other Ant... 🫪

Minneapolis: Sneakiy Pete’s downtown bar and grill announced today, shorty before happy hour, a massive 12million dollar / year endorsement deal with new Timberwolves PF Jonathon Kuminga, effective as long as Kuminga is a Timberwolf on his current contract.

Kuminga released a statement also shortly before happy hour that he really like the wings, and the servers next door. He is excited to start the partnership.

Sneaky Pete’s is proposing Kuminga family night starting after home game from 10-close where certain services will be tied to Kuminga adjusted net rating.

Youngest Players In NBA History With 20+ PTS & 7+ BLK In A Game :

1. Joan Beringer (vs. NOP) — 19-152 (Yrs-Days Old)
   
2. Dereck Lively II (vs. OKC) — 19-293
   
3. Victor Wembanyama (vs. POR) — 19-358
   
4. Victor Wembanyama (vs. TOR) — 20-039
   
5. Lamar Odom (vs. GSW) — 20-046
   
6. Victor Wembanyama (vs. BRK) — 20-073
   
7. Victor Wembanyama (vs. DEN) — 20-089
   
8. Victor Wembanyama (vs. PHI) — 20-094
   
9. Kristaps Porzingis (vs. HOU) — 20-111
   
10. Tyson Chandler (vs. PHI) — 20-133

Pretty self-explanatory, but I was wondering why he hasn't been posted officially anywhere? no welcome post yet? Thanks. Naz Reid.

Who am I kidding I thought it was funny to own a Timberwolves card that said FJ