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- [00:00]
Jeff Bridges
Morning Zoe. Got donuts.
- [00:02]
Dana
Jeff Bridges, why are you still living above our garage?
- [00:05]
Jeff Bridges
Well, I dig the mattress and I want to be in a T mobile commercial like you teach me.
- [00:11]
Dana
So Dana oh no, I'm not really prepared. I couldn't possibly at t mobile get the new iPhone 17 Pro on them. It's designed to be the most powerful iPhone yet and has the ultimate pro camera system.
- [00:24]
Jeff Bridges
Wow, impressive. Let me try. T mobile is the best place to get iPhone 17 Pro because they've got the best network.
- [00:31]
Dana
Nice. J free.
- [00:32]
John Krasinski
You heard them.
- [00:33]
Jeff Bridges
T mobile is the best place to.
- [00:35]
Dave DeFore
Get the new iPhone 17 Pro on.
- [00:37]
Jeff Bridges
Us with eligible traded in any condition. So what are we having for lunch?
- [00:42]
Dana
Dude, my work here is done.
- [00:44]
T-Mobile Announcer
The 24 month bill credits on experience beyond for well qualified customers + tax and 35 device connection charge credit same and balance due if you pay off earlier Cancel Finance Agreement. IPhone 17 Pro 256 gigs 1099.99 and new line minimum 100 plus a month plan with auto pay plus taxes and fees required. Best mobile network in the US based on analysis by Oklahoma Speed Test Intelligence Data 1H 2025 Visit t mobile.com.
- [01:04]
John Krasinski
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- [01:31]
Dana
You may have spent more on coffee this morning than 700 million people have to live on each day, but that same $5, it could help a child go to school, provide clean water or deliver life saving aid. At Concern Worldwide, we partner with communities living in extreme poverty, responding within hours when crisis hits and staying long after the headlines fade. Because real change doesn't start big. It starts with you. Visit concernusa.org podcast to take action.
- [02:10]
Dave DeFore
Good morning and welcome to the NBA Daily presented by ebay. I'm Dave DeFore. Coming up, we got John Krasinski here to preview the Minnesota Timberwolves. Will Anthony Edwards be an mvp? Is this the year the Rudy Gobert drops off? And who are they going to trade for? Welcome back to the NBA Daily presented by ebay. I'm Dave DeFore here with John Krasinski. So that means it's time to talk Minnesota Timberwolves basketball. John, hope you had a good relaxing summer. Are you ready for the season start?
- [02:42]
John Krasinski
Yeah, I am. It was relaxing. You know, we're used to seeing the Timberwolves make huge trades and do all sorts of Crazy stuff. But it was really a quiet summer for them, so I got to kind of relax a little bit and, and hang. Hang out and so now it's basketball time, though. I'm itching to get back in the arena. Itching, really see what this team is all about and how this whole league really unfolds. So I'm ready for it for sure.
- [03:04]
Dave DeFore
What's the biggest change from last year to this one for. For the Wolves? I mean, they've been pretty outside of the Carl Anthony Towns Randall trade. That's actually kind of been consistent the last few seasons as far as the roster goes otherwise.
- [03:19]
John Krasinski
Yeah. And it's even, even more so this summer, Dave. I mean, when you look at it, they, Nikhil Alexander Walker did leave for Atlanta kind of priced out of things here in Minnesota and one of their top seven eight guys, you know, on the team. But other than that, everyone is back. And so it is remarkably consistent from last year to this year. And, and so I do think that they will miss Nikhil Alexander Walker in the locker room on the court. Really important player for them. And I think you will see a few more of the young guys, like Terence Shannon Jr. Rob Dillingham, Jalen Clark get opportunities to play where they did not get much of last year. But when you look like 1 through 7 roughly in this rotation, it's all the same. And you know, Anthony Edwards, Nazri Jade McDaniels are, are kind of the young core. Then you have Rudy Gobert and Mike Conley and Julius Randall as the, as the Hardy Vets. You mix in Dante DiVincenzo there and. But yeah, this is a, this is as. As sort of consistent from year to year as they've been in a long time. And I think they're really hoping that that continuity bodes well for them going into this season.
- [04:36]
Dave DeFore
Is that where they're expecting the growth to come from? Continuity and chemistry?
- [04:40]
John Krasinski
Yes, absolutely. Because I do think, you know, they made the trade for Carl Anthony Towns, for Randle and DiVincenzo literally two days before training camp began. And it was especially the first two and a half months of the season or so was just a real slog because these guys had never played together. They were trying to figure things out. If you talk to, you know, any many players who have had the experience, when you play with Rudy Gobert, it takes a good year to kind of really figure things out defensively, offensively. And so there is a belief that with all of the familiarity that they now have, with all of the lessons they learned about each other last season and even they still got to the Western Conference finals. But I think that they are really confident that there's just a greater sense of identity and a greater, just kind of chemistry and cohesion right now in this training camp as opposed to last training camp when it was just, just like kind of the, the Dynamite was pushed right before, right before the, the camp started. So they will be leaning into that a lot and, and believing that that cohesion is going to carry them hopefully further than last year.
- [05:52]
Dave DeFore
Do they have any kind of breakout candidates on this roster? I mean obviously Anthony Edwards is going to get a lot of attention and we'll talk about him in a minute. But you know who could pop from, from this team?
- [06:04]
John Krasinski
So I think a couple. I'll go, I'll start with the first one that probably is the chance to be really impactful is Jaden McDaniels. I do think that you know he's going into year six. He has already established himself as a, an elite defender in this league. But I think that there's a belief that there's more to his offensive game. He's not a catch and shoot three point shooter but I think you're going to see him put the ball on the floor a little bit more. Make run, pick and roll with Rudy Gobert. I think they're going to just try and be a little more creative with him offensively and when he's aggressive he can score. Absolutely. I think Dave, he's actually their best finisher at the rim especially in transition much you know ant struggle with that last year. You know several other, other guys are okay there but Jaden is really with his length is just able to rise up over people and score. And so I do think that you're going to see or they're going to try to make him of a dynamic two way player than just all defense and you know anything offensively is essentially a bonus and he played really, really well offensively in the playoffs last year. And so I think that there's a belief that he will take a leap. The other one will be Terence Shannon Jr. Kind of sliding in.
- [07:22]
Dave DeFore
Those playoff minutes were huge, man.
- [07:24]
John Krasinski
Yeah, yeah. Just you know he's, he's a 25 year old second year player and he's a grown man like he is 6, 6£220. He plays aggressively, he runs the floor. They need to be better in transition. He's a guy that very well he gets downhill and with Alexander Walker gone there are more minutes to be had there and I think that his combination of physicality and just breakneck speed are going to be kind of a revelation for people around the league who haven't watched the Timberwolves very much.
- [07:55]
Dave DeFore
You mentioned the older guys. I mean, Mike Conley, 38 years old, not quite sure how a guy his size is still, is still doing it, but he's going to be out there again this season. And Rudy Gobert a little bit older. Any worry about a drop off from those guys like this year?
- [08:15]
John Krasinski
I mean, there has to be, right, Dave? I mean, yeah, I mean, Conley at 38, he did not look great in the Western Conference finals in particular, just in terms of the Wolves needed someone at that spot who could hurt a defense for not paying attention to him. And he would make an, you know, three pointer here or there. But in terms of creating and putting pressure on a defense, defense, he wasn't there last year. His floater, which has been like one of the great shots in the league, really abandoned him. It just wasn't there. I think he was working through some, some injuries. Some, you know, his summer last year was. He was really on the shelf with, with wrist and leg injuries. And so he didn't get to work on his game. He feels stronger and healthier coming into camp this year. And I thought, Dave, honestly, that they might just kind of gradually and easily kind of move away from Mike Conley. But right now the talk around here in Wolf's camp is that he is going to be the starter. They're going to put the ball in his hands a little bit more. They're going to try and empower him in a different way, and we'll see if that helps neutralize some of the drop off that we saw last season with Rudy, the same way Rudy came into last year and he just wasn't as impactful defensively in the first couple of months. I mean, I think the Carl Anthony Towns trade did kind of mess with him a little bit too, because Kat was one of the guys on the team that would throw him the ball that would get him involved. And without him there, I think that he felt a little bit stuck for a little while. And on the second half of the season, he played great defensively. He was really, really good. More of the old, old RU that we're used to seeing, but that will be another one that you watch. He looks great coming into camp. He looks like he's in great shape, but he is getting a little bit older. Big men do age at a different clip, and so that's one thing that you are going to kind of keep an eye on early with the Timberwolves is, you know, was last year's kind of struggles, was that related more to the trade and instability and things, or was it a physical decline? We'll find out pretty early, I think.
- [10:24]
Dave DeFore
Yeah.
- [10:24]
John Krasinski
In the season about that.
- [10:25]
Dave DeFore
Dave and Rudy had that rough run at the Olympics, too. Like, let's not forget that. Right. And whatever the injury was, you know, but he also was playing in the Olympics, and I think that. That for Biggs especially, it can be a detriment. Like, I'm worried, like you looking at. Ahead to the season, Euro basket. Rudy didn't participate this year, but a lot of guys did. You know, Jokic, who seems like a unbeatable machine, so maybe it won't affect him. But, you know, Giannis is a guy that I've kind of. I'm paying attention to. How tired is he going to be coming off the international competition?
- [10:57]
John Krasinski
Yeah, it's a great. I just want to reiterate that point, David. It's a great one because, like, for the last, like, I think it's five or six years Rudy's been Olympics, World Championships, Eurobasket with Team France, and this was the first year he did not play. And I do think that it was important for him not to play. I do think he needed a summer to recharge. I think his body at this age is not just conducive to playing all of those games year round. And so that if you're an optimist about Rudy, which there are a lot of people around here who are. That could really factor in as well to just being much fresher, much sharper at the start of this season than he was last year.
- [11:36]
Dave DeFore
Yeah, I mean, his physical conditioning is. He. He is elite as far as being a conditioned center. And so I just. He looked tired to me at the start of last year. And that's not typical for. For Rudy. But let's get to Anthony Edwards. Is this the year that. That we have real MVP buzz for Anthony Edwards?
- [11:57]
John Krasinski
Yeah, I mean, I. I think that's what the plan is. You know, we do have to be fair and say when you're going up against, you know, Jokic and Shay, I mean, the. To really be a part of that conversation, it's a high, high bar to clear. Right. I mean, it's like the numbers that they put up just. I mean, it makes it really tough to crack into that conversation. But I do think that if the Timberwolves are, you know, in, you know, in that Top three or four in the West. Ant is going to be a huge part of it and he is a charismatic dude. He's very dynam. I think that he has spent the summer working on a few of the things that were struggles for him last year, including finishing at the rim, including like working a little more mid range, a little bit more post. So. And, and I think he wants to be more consistent defensively as well. If he is able to achieve three of those things and, and, and take his game to one more level, then yes, I think you are going to see MVP conversation and obviously it starts with the Timbrels being really successful on the court, but I think that there is a belief that he is, he has one more step to take. It's probably the hardest step from a great player to an MVP candidate, but I think that he has that in him. And whether it's this year or next year, we're right in that zone of, of and you know, kind of rocketing into that stratosphere.
- [13:27]
Dave DeFore
I mean, he'll have to win, right? That's going to be the important thing. Right? He's going to have to win. But the other thing. I'm glad you brought this up, the finishing in the playoffs last year. Right. The contact really got to him. I wonder if he's going to see even more contact during the regular season this year. Not just double teams, but just maybe they put bigger guys on him. You know, I mean this has been, he's been a guy that I think other teams have focused on. When they think about, hey, we've got to guard these bigger guards. I know Denver was thinking about that after they got eliminated by the Wolves a few years ago. It's part of why I think I, I think they were okay moving on from kcp, who just wasn't quite big enough. Could you see other teams start throwing threes on this guy? I mean like just try to just overwhelm him with, with physicality and, and punish him a little bit.
- [14:14]
John Krasinski
Yeah, I do think that there's going to be some of that because the other part of that is that, you know, if you, if you take that physical approach and he doesn't get a few whistles, he gets upset like that. Yeah, it really does bother him and you can maybe get him off of his game that way. The other thing that I would imagine that you will see a lot of that, especially against okc, but really a lot in the playoffs was that they are going to force Rudy Gobert, Jaden McDaniels to make shots to, to do something offensively to damage them. Basically, it'll be we're loading up on Anthony Edwards, we're going to double him, we're going to bump and bang him, we're going to really keep his lanes to the basket clogged as much as possible, and we're going to force him to drive kick to Jaden in the corner. And if he's going to hit threes, we'll shake your hand. We're going to force him to try and do something that he doesn't really feel comfortable with, which is throw that little lob to Rudy Gobert. And if, if they beat, if he beats you that way, then you shake his hand. But I do think that the main approach to the Timberwolves offense this season is going to be how do we frustrate Anthony Edwards with doubles, with physical play, and just by completely ignoring some of the other players that he shares the court with. And that's I think you're going to see a heavy diet of that until the Wolves prove that they can consistently win games. When, when that approaches is the way it is.
- [15:43]
Dave DeFore
Yeah, he needs to watch a bunch of Steph Curry tape. You know, just think about all those times Steph gives the ball up and then gets moving. I think if you get Anthony Edwards when he, if he can give the ball up when the double comes and then get on the move with his athleticism, I mean, he could really wreak some havoc. But if nothing else, his gravity should open up things for people. We're going to take a quick break and then we'll come back. I want to see if the Wolves have any more trades up their sleeves.
- [16:16]
Dana
Hi, I'm Madupak and Ola from TED Business, and I'm here to talk about the Financial Times. Every day the world bombards you with endless headlines and noise. What matters most? Facts and context. That's where the Financial Times comes in. With clarity, depth and truly independent reporting, the FT helps you cut through the noise and see what's real and why it matters. Stay informed with the trusted source leaders around the world rely on. Visit FT.comSourceFT to read more and save 40% on a digital FT subscription.
- [16:56]
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- [17:44]
Dave DeFore
All right, John, this team has not been shy the last few years about making big moves. Now, I don't think they've got any big moves that they can make. You know, just, you've got a lot of guys already. Is this, is this a year where they may have to make some moves on the margins during the season, maybe at the trade deadline to get the team to where it needs to be?
- [18:05]
John Krasinski
It's possible, Dave. I mean, you know, I, I will just say that if Giannis makes it clear that he wants out of Milwaukee, you will hear the Wolves jump into it just like 20 other teams will jump into that conversation. But, but let's just put it in more realistic terms right now. I do believe that you'll be watching point guard a lot going into this with Mike Conley, with Rob Dillingham. Bowens Highland is their third point guard right now. And if Mike looks a little too old or gets injured, if Rob Dillingham doesn't look, it looks a little too young and isn't quite ready yet, then I think that that is a position that you would look at as one where they would try to upgrade. But I do think that they're very invested in Rob Dillingham. They want him to work out and so they're going to give plenty of Runway for him to learn on the job to, to get some minutes and, and get going. But if come February, the team is kind of languishing a little bit, and one of the main reasons is, is that they're just not getting enough dynamic play out of the point guard spot. That would be one that I would look at as, as an area to upgrade or that they would, they would consider, you know, an outside person to try and land, bring in and be, you know, someone who can run the show, can make shots, but also can create his own shot to help take some of that pressure off Anthony Edwards.
- [19:32]
Dave DeFore
What, what pieces do they have to go and get a guy like that?
- [19:35]
John Krasinski
Well, I mean, they have, they have young guys. They have Rob Dillingham, they have Terence Shannon. They have, you know, they have some young players that would certainly be, I think, attractive to other teams. If you, you know, you look at the, then you also have, I mean, Julius Ra. If you want to go big and you need a, like a big contract to match to make a deal work here he has, he has a big contract. They love Julius Randall here. I don't think they want to trade him. But if you're looking at getting into, let's just Dear and Fox, whatever, you know, something like that and you have to make the math work. That's a possibility. You know, Rudy Gobert is getting a little bit older, but he's his, his contract is short and, and so that's another big piece of. You could use to pull off a big deal. And so they have sort of options. If a team wants young pieces, if a team wants more of a veteran, they, you know that, that they would be able to kind of dangle to try and make something happen.
- [20:42]
Dave DeFore
Yeah. What's the biggest swing factor this season? What gets them from being in that, that second tier in the west to the top tier with Oklahoma City and Denver?
- [20:55]
John Krasinski
Yeah, I mean, I think that if, if they find a. Well, there's two things. I'm, I'm going to just kind of operate from the assumption that Ant is going to make another leap. I just think that he works too hard, he's been too good, like that's going to happen. So what else needs to happen? I think that if Jaden McDaniels really ascends to a true two way student and is someone that can hurt an opposing defense when they try to put their worst defensive player on him, that's going to be one big factor. And then the other one is if they find a way to get a, you know, kind of a more of a requisite production from the one spot and whether that's Mike Conley, whether they end up putting Dante DiVincenzo there and kind of kind of muddling through the playmaking aspects of it, but get more shooting in there and, and more defense or whether Rob Dillingham ascends. If, if that happens, then I think you're looking at a really well rounded team with very few holes to poke in it. I think that they're going to come out very strong because of the continuity and familiarity. But, but if they're, if It's a Jade McDaniels or a point guard really solidifies, then I do think this team goes from another interesting contender to one that says ye could. They could beat Oklahoma City in a playoff series. They could beat Denver in a play. They always beat Denver. So they, they could beat them again. So that, that's what's kind of Standing in their way right now. And what we want to see, if it, if it can come to fruition.
- [22:34]
Dave DeFore
How do you feel, what do you feel is the realistic outcome for this season? We get to, you know, July, you and I were hanging out at summer league. What, what happened?
- [22:42]
John Krasinski
Yeah, I'm, I'm, I'm high on this season actually, Dave, because I think that when you look at what they are, what they are capable of doing, that two years ago they came in after one year of Rudy and was, it was a slog, but then they were really familiar with each other. They just took off. Mid 50s wins, Western Conference finals. I think that's on the table again and I think they can be really hard to play in the playoffs. And so if you look at that, I think at the end of the day they're low to mid-50s in wins. And then with the right matchups, they absolutely can go to the conference finals again. If everything breaks right for them, they could take another step. They're not the favorites, they shouldn't be. But I think they have enough talent and enough depth to really be a real factor in the Western Conference race this season.
- [23:34]
Dave DeFore
I hope so. I hope so because I, as much as I'm excited to watch OKC and Denver and I think that those are the two best teams in the West. It would be great if a couple of these other teams, if things broke right for the Lakers and the Wolves and we actually had a real battle come playoff time and we got pretty epic playoff last year. I'd like to see it, you know, if we could get another elite team in the West, I think it really could, could shake things up. John Krasinski, thank you for spending time with us. Spent so much time on the show last year. Everybody go and read them over at the Athletic. I have a feeling that this is going to be a fascinating year, not just for the Wolves, but especially for Anthony, Anthony Edwards, because this is the year. I think that he's a real MVP guy, not just a, hey, he's young and he's up and coming. I think that this is the year. 30 points a game, I think is this is the season. So we'll see. I don't know. I. John, I'm gonna not put those words in your mouth, but I'll say them out loud. Thank you for hanging out with us, guys. Thanks for listening. Go and like and subscribe over on YouTube. Leave us a five star review on itunes and we will be back with more team previews later on this week. Skip the gym not the workout. With hydro you get a full body workout in just 20 minutes, hitting 86% of your muscles in one smooth, low impact motion. And now there's the new hydro Arc, Hydro's most advanced rower yet. ARC introduces hydrometrics tracking your power, endurance and precision every time you row so.
- [25:26]
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- [25:28]
Dave DeFore
Go to hydro.com and use code row to get $100 off any hydro rower including ark. That's H Y-R-O-W.com code row Morning Zoe.
- [25:39]
Jeff Bridges
Got donuts.
- [25:40]
Dana
Jeff Bridges why are you still living above our garage?
- [25:43]
Jeff Bridges
Well, I dig the mattress and I want to be in a T Mobile commercial like you.
- [25:48]
Dana
Teach me so Dana oh no, I'm not really prepared. I couldn't possibly at t mobile get the new iPhone 17 Pro on them. It's designed to be the most powerful iPhone yet and has the ultimate pro camera camera system.
- [26:02]
Jeff Bridges
Wow, impressive. Let me try. T Mobile is the best place to get iPhone 17 Pro because they've got the best network.
- [26:09]
Dana
Nice. Jeffrey, you heard them.
- [26:11]
Jeff Bridges
T Mobile is the best place to.
- [26:13]
Dave DeFore
Get the new iPhone 17 Pro on.
- [26:15]
Jeff Bridges
Us with eligible traded in any condition. So what are we having for lunch?
- [26:20]
Dana
Dude, my work here is done.
- [26:22]
T-Mobile Announcer
The 24 month credit is on experience beyond for well qualified customers plus tax and 35 advice connection charge credits and amount do if you pay off earlier, Cancel Finance Agreement. IPhone 17 Pro 256 gigs $1099.99 and new line minimum $100 plus a month plan with auto pay plus taxes and fees required. Best mobile network in the US based on analysis by Ookla Speed Test Intelligence.
- [26:36]
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