Stanzel’s Sports Takeout — BREAKING NEWS: 2.4.26
Lindsey Vonn says she’s competing at The Olympics with a ruptured ACL. Remember, she has one titanium knee already. I love her heart, and she’s never going to compete again, but you have to save the athlete from themselves sometime. Then again, Andrew Brunette played half a season on a torn ACL…
Wolves Trade Conley to Clear Cap Room…For Giannis?
Mike Conley was due to make an appearance on KFAN with Dan Barriero yesterday. He missed that speaking opportunity because, well, he was no longer a Minnesota Timberwolf. Minnesota Mike became Miracle Mile Mike.
Conley was traded to Chicago in a three-team deal that essentially cleared up significant salary cap space for the Wolves. Does that mean Giannis Antetokounmpo could be on his way to Minnesota before Thursday’s 2 p.m. trade deadline? Possibly. It’s conceivable the Bucks wait until summer to move him, in part because they can get a bigger haul once he proves he’s fully recovered.
It’s clear the Wolves would have to deal Jayden McDaniels to the Bucks. Who else would need to be in that deal is clearly what this deal will hinge on. The Wolves have the parts to make an NBA Final, for sure, and that only increases with Giannis. But without McDaniels, the Wolves become a worse team defensively.
Also, Giannis won’t play for at least another month due to injury. Will the Wolves slip in the standings with a significantly shorthanded lineup? They’ve fought hard to be in the mix for a No. 2-5 spot, but they’re only a half game out of the play-in round. Imagine sliding into that spot and drawing OKC in round one.
And remember, the Wolves don’t have a true point guard on the roster outside of little used Rob Dillingham.
The Wolves were absolutely dreadful in a 137-128 loss at Memphis on Monday night. The Grizzlies had lost six straight, and the Wolves had won four in a row.
Minnesota visits Toronto tonight.
Wild Beats Habs in OT in Penultimate Game Before Break
Quinn Hughes is so doggone good. He may not have been dealt to a good team in time to win the Norris Trophy this year, but you won’t find a defenseman making a bigger impact on his current team.
Hughes had three assists and set up Kirill Kaprizov’s overtime game winner in a 4-3 home decision over Montreal on Monday. Kaprizov’s goal was his second of the game. Hughes’ defensive partner Brock Faber, who is absolutely becoming a star alongside Hughes, also scored.
The Central Division, the West and the Presidents Trophy looked like they were all guaranteed to the Colorado Avalanche weeks ago. But the Avs have just three wins in their 10 games, and both a surging Wild team (four straight wins) and Dallas (five in a row) are on their heels. The Wild trails the Avs by five points, but had played three more games than Colorado.
The Wild plays at Nashville tonight in the final game before the Olympic break.
Reports: Loons Closing in on Global Star Rodriguez
Global star James Rodriguez is in talks with the Loons over a deal that will bring him to the MLS next season, multiple outlets report. Rodriguez is on the wrong side of 30 (34), but he’s played 122 games for Colombia, and he’ll be a big part of their 2026 World Cup team. He was the best player in the 2024 Copa America in the U.S.
Rodriguez would far and away be the biggest International star to put on a Loons kit. As KSTP’s Chris Long pointed out, just two years ago Rodriguez was named the 77th best soccer player in the WORLD.
The Loons would be his seventh team since 2020, so you do wonder about him. He played for Leon in Liga MX (Mexico) last year.
Gopher Hoops
The Gopher men play at Michigan State tonight, while the women visit No. 8 Iowa on Thursday.
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