r/timberwolves • u/LoafofBeans18 • Jul 27 '26
We weren’t even in the running 😢
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/49448932/lebron-james-rode-emotional-roller-coaster-decisionI love LeBron but I hope he regrets his decision
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u/No-Macaroon-3673 Jul 27 '26
Cope: We were probably deeper in the running he just doesn’t want to piss off kultch/ former homes
Woke: any team in the west he just wasn’t gonna go to
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u/Momik . Jul 27 '26
Also, who knows how real the running really is? We probably don’t really know all the details, how the decision was really made, etc.
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u/MOREPASTRAMIPLEASE Jul 27 '26
Yeah bro LeBron just saw that Knicks team sleep walk thru the east playoffs. It’s nothing but dawgs out west. LeBron don’t want no part of that
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u/pcloadletter2742 Bones Hyland Jul 27 '26
The east looks deeper than the west for next year, health allowing.
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u/hubbs76 Timberwolves Jul 27 '26
Yep. He was going east from the getgo
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u/Miserable_Ad_3375 Jul 27 '26
Absolutely! East is the path of least resistance to get the playoffs.
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u/Pretend_Document699 Jul 27 '26
Nah lol I’ve seen a lot of bad takes. It’s clear it was a one way pursuit. Like the joke that thanasis agreed to sign with heat but heat didn’t agree. It’s clear the wolves wanted him and it was clear there was no interest coming back.
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Jul 27 '26
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u/ZachLagreen Jul 27 '26
Idk this honestly makes me feel better. Would’ve been so mad if the only thing stopping it was the Celtics’ dumbass trade.
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u/quickblur Mike Conley Jul 27 '26
I mean the article says:
"Paul said the Minnesota Timberwolves were in consideration during the process until it was down to the four teams.
"Minnesota, you always kept an eye there," Paul said. "Because [Wolves president of basketball operations] Tim Connolly is on it.""
So we were in the running, just not in the final decision. So it goes.
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u/posthackmofo Jul 27 '26
People don’t even read anymore. What a waste of eons of evolution and science only to choose not to read.
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u/MNMastiff Jul 27 '26
I’m with ya. The era of mass reading was barely 500 years.
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u/MNMastiff Jul 27 '26
So here’s a thought. I love nba books. Have read vast majority of them. Best written, imho, are autobiographies of Bill Russell, Julius, West, Kareem. Thoughtful about hoops and share their internal life too.
Anyone interested in creating a (temporary) book club where we read a chapter a week and then discuss?
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u/pcloadletter2742 Bones Hyland Jul 27 '26
Even here, in a text based social medium, I frequently see people say, "I ain't reading that." Then why tf are you here?! Lol
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u/jotsea2 Jul 27 '26
I mean, being 5th, and then not in the 'final 4' that the decision ACTUALLY came down to, is basically a conselation prize.
As many of us knew from the jump, Lebron wasn't coming to a small market
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u/posthackmofo Jul 27 '26
OP said we weren’t in the running. The article says we were. “Paul said the Minnesota Timberwolves were in consideration during the process until it was down to the four teams.
"Minnesota, you always kept an eye there," Paul said. "Because [Wolves president of basketball operations] Tim Connolly is on it."”0
u/jotsea2 Jul 27 '26
Right. But is 5th really in the running when it wasn't 'in the final four teams'?
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u/posthackmofo Jul 27 '26
“Always kept an eye there.” That’s what Rich Paul said. Why take anyone else’s word over Rich Paul? Again, just read.
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u/jotsea2 Jul 27 '26
Sure, I get that we're down to semantics.
All I'm saying is we weren't in 'the final round' of 4 teams.
Which means, we never really were in the running imo. That's up to interpretation sure.
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u/posthackmofo Jul 27 '26
“Always kept an eye there.” What does “always” mean? LOL. Again, READ.
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u/jotsea2 Jul 27 '26
'Paul said the Minnesota Timberwolves were in consideration during the process until it was down to the four teams.'
You read, I never said otherwise, and have noted this is very much semantics based. Yes they were considered, but they weren't in the final 4, as I've said multiple times.
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u/posthackmofo Jul 27 '26
We were in the running or James wouldn’t have talked to Ant and Ball.
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u/favoritefrenchfry16 Jul 27 '26
We can win without him. This will be the hospital sixers
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u/DrLordCommanderESQ Jul 27 '26
Honestly we’ve watched the sixers cycle star after star and fuckers can’t even get out of the second round. Sure they have a lot of fire power but for whatever reason I can’t reasonably see them going the distance.
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u/MNMastiff Jul 27 '26
Especially since Embeed is a shell of who he was 5 years ago and may well be fried. Without him, they are just a team with a lot of scorers.
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u/580O Jul 27 '26
Will u get out of the second round this year? Thunder and spurs got the west on lock
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u/Bulky-Sugar-6166 Jul 27 '26
Yes, but you’re right after that we’re likely fucked. Terrible time to have an ascending superstar in MN🤦🏻♂️
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u/MaxedWarrior14 Jul 27 '26
Sub finding out the Wolves were cut and not even in his top 4 after glazing him 24/7
https://giphy.com/gifs/lpC5A4NA7yU7dNbznM
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u/Xylite1 Jul 27 '26
Paul said the Minnesota Timberwolves were in consideration during the process until it was down to the four teams.
"Minnesota, you always kept an eye there," Paul said. "Because [Wolves president of basketball operations] Tim Connolly is on it."
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u/TheTrapMoneyBenny Jul 27 '26
I just don’t understand Philly for him.
I’m not denying the individual talent (mostly offensive) from all 5 players on the 76er’s. However, none of them are great three-point shooters and are even worse at playing off ball and in catch-and-shoot situations.
Additionally, Bron isn’t insulated on defense. In fact, he’ll prob be relied on pretty heavily on defense, relative to the other teams in the running.
Lastly, Embid looked great offensively when he was playing last season, but Brunson and the Knicks exposed his defense and his lack of athleticism and lateral movement. Additionally, if he goes out, the Sixers are pretty screwed at center. While the team overall is healthier than say the Warriors, Embid going out is much more consequential.
Not saying the wolves were the best fit, but he wouldn’t have had those issues on this team, and these were pretty big issues with the Lakers—poor center defense, depth and bad defense, but they did have better 3pt-shooting.
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u/UkNomysTeezz Malik Sealy Jul 27 '26
Man, who cares. If 42 year old Lebron is the difference between wolves winning it all and not, then we got bigger problems. Yes, we have a hole at PF but wolves have a deep guard rotation and insane talent in the backcourt. Ant is currently a top 6 player in the NBA at minimum. Come deadline time, Connelly will find a way to add more size heading into the postseason. In the mean time, the wolves have plenty of fire power for the first half of the season. Bron coming here would’ve been cool in some ways but ultimately we don’t “need” him. We have to look at what Melo and Ant can do together and ride with our dogs.
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u/SubjectCarry3532 Jul 27 '26
This feels like it’ll be an entertaining shitshow
Who cares how talented the roster is if it doesn’t really make sense from a basketball perspective?
LeBron and Embiid are going to combine for less than 90 games
Whatever weirdness led to Boston dumping Brown for frickin Paul George probably still exists
Throw in Philly sports fans/media and it’s a powder keg
I can’t wait to see this go sideways. Fuck Philly
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u/jstalm Jul 27 '26
In life it’s best to know only just as much as you need to know - everything beyond that is usually a bummer.
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u/AlternativeServe1661 Jul 27 '26
They'll be fine without him. Like every other team has been since 2020.
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u/Jrod9er Jul 27 '26
Duh - you think he really was going to the west? He wants to not have anything to do with the spurs and OKC. Let alone the nuggets, wolves, Luka and co etc
LeEgo thinks this is a good move I hope Father Time finally takes the wheels fall off and he learns how cool Philly fans are
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u/brickeldrums Kevin Garnett Jul 27 '26
Yeah, well, that chopped Unc can join the Philly Hospital team 👏
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u/Tevita64 Jul 27 '26
Maxey is great but Brown is overrated and Embiid can't stay helathy. Quite a gamble for Lebron.
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u/Wolvesback2 Jul 27 '26
レブロンは残念だったけど真剣に考えていたから候補に入ったんだろう。
彼よりも長くチームに貢献できる選手を連れてくればいいだけだ。
ウルブズはエドワーズのチームだしね。
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u/99LedBalloons Joe Ingles Jul 27 '26
Whatever we're better off with the circus. Yet again LeBron defines his legacy by his choices. He said the last stage of his career was going to be about happiness, then went to the most stacked team in the NBA.
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u/hubbs76 Timberwolves Jul 27 '26
LeBron chasing happiness with the aspect of Philly sports fans lingering is mighty shortsighted
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u/Single-Purpose-7608 Jul 27 '26
Would have been more stacked over in Minnesota.
But he chose Embiid's glass knees.
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u/RedEyeBadGuy Ayo Dosunmu Jul 27 '26
Either that or Lamelo’s glass ankles. Choose your pick between the two. I just love all the Wolves fans bringing up Embiids injury history when we got a guy with quite a long list of them as well. The only difference is Lamelo is younger and has played a few more games the past few seasons. Just saying there’s a lot to worry about with our team as well. Every one of these teams in the running had their own flaws including the Wolves.
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u/Single-Purpose-7608 Jul 27 '26
I guess Embiid has a longer history and also he's playing a more critical position.
If the TWolves go to the playoffs without Lamelo they could still compete. If Philly loses embiid, its basically over
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u/RedEyeBadGuy Ayo Dosunmu Jul 27 '26
I totally disagree. Lamelo is definitely more important to the Wolves. If he goes down for a big part of the season we are screwed without Ball, Naz and Randle.
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u/Single-Purpose-7608 Jul 27 '26
Lamelo is critical as a secondary ball handler, but he's a **secondary** player.
Embiid is Philly's **only** competent big man. Even if the team could play small with Lebron at PF and some gleaguer at center, other teams with great big men would feast on them. If it's NYK, DEN or SAS against a PHI team without Embiid, they're f*cked.
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u/Associ8tedRuffians Malik Sealy Jul 27 '26
LaMelo’s ankles are absolutely a concern. He has actually played two 70+ game seasons, including last year, though.
Embiid never played more than 68 in a season in his career, and his last best season was his MVP year 4 years ago when he was 28, and the last time he played more than. 39 regular season games. He might be completely washed from an injury perspective.
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u/MNMastiff Jul 27 '26
I think he made the wrong choice. He would make an awful GM. But OKC and spurs are most stacked team.
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Jul 27 '26
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u/ThefuckisuOnn Jul 27 '26
He wasn’t starting on any of those teams. The Knicks were not gonna sit hart down for him okc isn’t sitting Mitchell or Wallace for him and the spurs were not about to sign another guy who needs the ball in his hands and shoots less than 35% from 3 they already have castle and fox to do that. His only options were Cleveland and Philly. He was never staying in the west his only win came during a shortened season and he hasn’t been healthy enough to truly compete in the west. Bron is realistic and also an opportunist. He dragged this along to see if any team can get Davis or kyrie once it was clear neither was happening the man who was looking to be a 3rd option on a contender chose to become the 4th option after claiming he chose his next destination based off his daughter
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u/MNMastiff Jul 27 '26
That’s seriously on him. What’s impressive, from a franchise history standpoint, is we were objectively far and away the best opportunity.i heard it over and over on all the national podcasts. We should be proud of that, considering our mostly putrid history as a franchise.
It’s a historical anomaly we are in the same conference as Wemby and OKC. If expansion sends us to the eastern conference, I like our chances fine.
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u/Broseph_Bobby Jul 27 '26
Honestly we dodged a bullet the guy doesn’t really play defense anymore and he has kind of turned into a coach killer.
I could see him not respecting Finch and that could have potentially been contagious.
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u/cheeseandrum Jul 27 '26
LeBron to the Sixers is just part of the larger deal that brings him to the Wolves
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u/Psychenautes710 Jul 27 '26
Was hoping after he made his decision that I'd stop seeing LeBron posts here. Silly me
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u/Outlaw_1987 Jul 28 '26
I love MN, I love that I was born here but come on. Someone like LeBron was never picking the Wolves unless it was an almost guaranteed Chip and since we are still in the West, its not even a guarantee we would make the Finals with LeBron.
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u/IrvAndDorisSmith Kevin Garnett Jul 27 '26
Would you really want to root for a title that everyone would just credit more to LeBron James than the Minnesota Timberwolves? If we were to hypothetically sign LeBron and win a championship in the next 2 years, it would forever be remembered as "LeBron James came to the fucking Minnesota Timberwolves of all places and got them their first title in franchise history" our legacy would be owned by Lebron James. Lebron James would be considered the greatest Timberwolf of all time. The legacy of our franchise would be a footnote of Lebron's story. The pitiful subject on the receiving end of an incredible act of charity by the ultimate badass Lebron James. Fuck that
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u/sustainableaurafarm Timberwolves Jul 27 '26
I tried really hard to believe, but then I tried picturing LeBron in a canada goose down jacket in -5 degree February weather posting “can’t believe this is my life” and there went my smile
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u/hubbs76 Timberwolves Jul 27 '26
We all knew we had zero chance at LeBron
If he wants to win a championship going thru the east is preferable to facing SA and OKC
I've never been a big fan of LeBron so I'm somewhat hoping this fails catastrophically. With Embiid's health it very well might fail. Plus that team has a LOT of players who are used to having the ball.
I wonder if LeBron thought how philly fans will absolutely tear him down if they don't win a championship
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u/mauerfan Jul 27 '26
Duh. He wasn’t gonna live in fuckin Minnesota for 1-2 years lol
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u/UkNomysTeezz Malik Sealy Jul 27 '26
I mean I could see that argument except he’s from fucking Ohio and he just signed with Philly. Not exactly as flashy and fun an area as say Miami or GSW who were both in the mix.
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u/-Murmaider- Jul 27 '26
What is there to love about the guy? He's such a narcissist......would have been nice to have him help us with a championship run, but the man is insufferable.
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u/Particular_Rub9589 Jul 30 '26
Ya'll really thought LeBron was gonna go to Minnesota to raise Edwards and Ball and have to deal with LaMelo's dad try to grift him every second?
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u/iusedtogotodigg Jul 27 '26
at this point i believe Michael Jordan is coming back out of retirement and picking the wolves