July 8, 2025 • 18 mins
In this episode of 'The Grind', Tim discusses the current state of Minnesota sports, focusing on the Timberwolves' interest in Bradley Beal and the Vikings' upcoming season. He critiques the Timberwolves' potential acquisition of Beal, citing his injury history and questioning his fit within the team. Parochka also addresses predictions for the Vikings, particularly concerns surrounding rookie quarterback JJ McCarthy and the challenges he may face in the competitive NFC North.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
The Grind, a Minnesota sports podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
It's been twelve thousand, three hundred and seven days since
the Minnesota Twins hoisted the World Series Trophy in nineteen
ninety one. But this is the Grind and we continue
grinding along with the Minnesota sports teams. Welcome into the
show lost to discuss today. Someone is predicting the Minnesota
(00:26):
Vikings to finish last in the NFC North.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Are they right?
Speaker 2 (00:31):
And why it would be absurd for the Minnesota Timberwolves
to pursue Bradley Beal? What are they thinking? All of
that and more on today's show. But first, I need
to tell you about five Star Bess Solutions in Minneapolis,
because they transformed our bathroom in forty eight hours, and
(00:52):
that is their guarantee. They come in and remodel entire
bathrooms in forty eight hours. I'm docking the hall in Schilada.
All right, take a look at our bathroom.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Before.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
We had a blue floor, a blue step, moldy shower,
hand drails everywhere. Our bathroom was designed for an elderly couple.
But our problem is we aren't elderly. We're thirty three,
My wife is thirty.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
We had an old.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Sink, vanity countertop, ugly, disgusting, embarrassing and unhealthy. And they
came in and remodeled everything. A new floor, a new tub,
a new surround, the mold is gone, a new mirror.
We went from one sinks to two sinks. Five Star
bess Ilusions of Minneapolis remodeled our entire bathroom and we
got our bathroom back in two days. Perfect efficiency, cleansliness, amazing.
(01:49):
We love it and it is incredible. That's why I'm
telling you about it. Five Star Bass Solutions of Minneapolis.
Affordable pricing, free consultations. Five Star Bass Solutions of Minneapolis.
All right, let's start here. The Minnesota Timberwolves are reportedly
(02:10):
confirmed suitors for Bradley Beal. Beal just turned thirty one
years old and is expected to hit the unrestricted free
agency market after the Sons and Bradley Beal officially come
to terms on a buyout because the Sons are trying
(02:34):
to get underneath that second apron and Bradley Beal has
an absurd contract for the amount of production that he brings.
When you think about the Suns these last few years,
what a failed experiment you bring on a big three
(02:55):
of Devin Booker who's a high quality player, Kevin Durant
who's an NBA superstar, and Bradley Beal, who should be
that perfect third piece and what a field experiment. The
Sons are a perfect example of how throwing three random
(03:16):
good players on a roster doesn't always work. These last
few years, Beal last season seventeen points per game. The
season before eighteen points per game, played in fifty three
games last year, played in fifty three games two years ago,
and has not played in over sixty games in seven years.
(03:42):
Bradley Beal is riddled with injury history, and if the
Timberwolves bring him onto their roster, where is his fit?
Are you starting three guards Edwards Beal, McDaniels and then
the Goberl and Julius Randall. Is Bradley Beal coming off
(04:05):
the bat? According to Jake Fisher, he's an NBA insider.
The Timberwolves are confirmed suitors for Bradley Beal, but can
we be honest about it. When any player has hit
(04:26):
the market over the last two to three years, the
Timberwolves have always been reportedly interested in that player, it
would appear, and Bradley Beal is another player on that list.
(04:48):
Of guys the Timberwolves have been reportedly interested in.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
Now.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Beal is a solid player, but is he what the
Timberwolves need right now?
Speaker 1 (05:04):
I don't think so.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
The Timberwolves should do everything in their power to stay
away from Bradley Beal, and not because he can't bring production,
but because of his fit on the roster and because
of the injury history that he's been riddled with throughout
(05:28):
his entire career. The player Bradley Beal has only played
eighty two games twice in his career, has only eclipsed
the seventy game mark four times in his thirteen year career.
Bradley Beal's greatest weakness is being on the floor consistently.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
And I don't think.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
Bradley Beale steps into the Timberwolves organization and makes them better.
I don't see how or where he fits because I
don't see him in the starting lineup and I don't
see him as a player that alleviates pressure from Anthony Edwards.
(06:26):
And that really has been what this offseason has been
all about, because we saw it against the Thunder. We
saw Edwards trying to dissect the Thunder by himself, and
he wasn't able to do it. We thought last year
against the Mavericks, he tried to dissect the Mavericks by
himself and he wasn't able to do it. So this
(06:48):
offseason has been all about trying to alleviate pressure from
Anthony Edwards spread around the love offensively, and that's why
the Timberwolves were interested and laid out a trade package
to acquire Kevin Durant.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
At thirty seven years old.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
The only reason why that trade didn't go down is
because Durant wanted no part of the Timberwolves. So I
don't see where Beal fits within the Timberwolves' roster and plan,
(07:35):
and you look at his injury history and I just
don't see it.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
I would rather sign a Damian.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
Lillard to a veteran minimum contract because he's a guard
and if he can get enough, I believe that he
brings the Timberwolves more what they need than Bradley Beal does.
(08:09):
Bradley Beal a thirty eight percent three point shooter last year,
fifty percent from field goal percentage last year, good numbers,
solid player, but I just don't see the fit that
he would provide the Timberwolves organization and where that would
(08:31):
take the team all right.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Next story to quickly cover.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Mo motun no idea. Who that is is ex descriptor
of himself. NFL analyst and Raiders Daily host at Bleacher Report,
CNN and TNT Sports, US NFL contributor co host SBN
Today Via Odyssey, Raiders writer.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
He's predicting.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
The Minnesota Vikings to finish last in the NFC North.
He writes the Minnesota Vikings will go from one of
the league's biggest surprise playoff teams in twenty twenty four
to a disappointing squad this year. Why jj McCarthy. McCarthy's
(09:23):
experience could cause the Vikings some games. The QB could
struggle to the first half of the season before he
finds his rhythm. And that appears to be the general
consensus on what could hold the Minnesota Vikings back from
being a successful regular season and playoff team next season.
(09:50):
And I agree with what he's saying. I think it
is oblivious to think that McCarthy is going to step
in and be the quarterback that Sam Donald was for
(10:13):
the Minnesota Vikings last season. It takes time for quarterbacks
to establish themselves as solid players. Even Jaden Daniels last year.
His efficiency his completion percentage was solid immediately seventeen for
(10:41):
twenty four, twenty three for twenty nine, but through the
first five games of his NFL career he had four
touchdowns and two interceptions. That's less than a touchdown a game.
He finished with twenty five and nine passing and nine interceptions.
(11:05):
Phenomenal year, great rookie season and was the best rookie
player last year in the NFL. And then beats the
Detroit Lions, beats the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and gets blown
out against Philadelphia did advance to the Super Bowl. But
(11:25):
my point being, even the best rookie quarterback last year
took time to throw touchdowns in his first few games.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
Efficiency numbers were there.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
Completion his attempts, he completed sixty nine percent of his passes.
His first three games he completed seventy seventy nine.
Speaker 1 (11:54):
The dude was great, But I don't think think Jaden
Daniels is.
Speaker 2 (12:03):
The comp to JJ McCarthy because they aren't the same player.
A similar comp to JAJ McCarthy would be bow Knicks,
and bo Knicks didn't throw his first touchdown pass until
Week four of the NFL regular season.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
Zero touchdown, zero touchdowns, zero touchdowns.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
One touchdown, and he's still finished with twenty nine and twelve.
He still had a great regular season and the Broncos
made the playoffs. So bow Knicks played really well last
year and brought the Broncos. You a good quarterback play
(12:57):
to secure a playoff spot.
Speaker 1 (13:01):
The problem with.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
That is the Minutnesota Vikings still play in the toughest division.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
In football.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
Packers twice, Lions twice, Bears twice, and the Bears with
Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
Are only going to be better.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
And you would think the Lions might decrease a little
bit because of the coaching staff and the offensive line,
but the Packers will probably be about the same eleven
or twelve wins. I am not sold on McCarthy being
the player that Sam Donald was Last year. Donald threw
(13:51):
thirty five touchdowns and twelve picks. And you think about
the throw that Donald had against Seattle late in that game,
stepping up into the pocket about to get creamed and
sidearm delivers a perfect strike down the sidelines to Justin Jefferson.
When I think about last year, that was Sam Donald's
(14:13):
best throw. I don't think McCarthy is making that throw.
I don't think McCarthy is going to step in at
year one and deliver the Vikings to fourteen wins. I
don't think Donald would step in in year two and
deliver the Vikings to fourteen wins. And Donald is the
(14:35):
better quarterback right now. So you think about what could
potentially hold the Vikings back from winning games next season,
and it's McCarthy. Because the offensive line, the running backs,
(14:57):
the receivers, everything on the Vikings roster besides a few
secondary pieces is perfect right now. They could use a
little bit of cornerback help. I think Harrison Smith is aging.
He's not the player he once was, but he can
make a few impactful plays throughout the season. The defensive
(15:18):
line and offensive line are set up for success. Linebackers
should be fine. McCarthy is the biggest question mark on
the Vikings, and.
Speaker 1 (15:31):
To think that he is going.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
To step into this season and deliver an NFC North
Trophy to the Minnesota Vikings, I think is outrageous because
(15:55):
there will be growing pains for McCarthy as there is
every single rookie quarterback that enters the league, and you
look at McCarthy's tools, and I have never understood the
arm strength idea of people criticizing his arm strength because
(16:16):
you pull up the college statement, his arm strength is fine.
Speaker 1 (16:19):
The bomb that he had down.
Speaker 2 (16:20):
The sidelines in preseason when Justin Jefferson was miked up
with Paul Allen on the radio, beautiful throw. Arm strength
seems fine. His mind seems fine. Like the preparation, that's
never a question for McCarthy. The part that I wonder
(16:45):
is the amount of responsibility that he will have to
take on as starting QB. Now, the situation is similar
to Michigan. Just don't mess this thing up and the
Vikings might be fine, but more is demanded for NFL.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
Quarterbacks than college quarterbacks.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
McCarthy will be asked and demanded to do more for
the Vikings than he was his last year at Michigan
because at Michigan they were set up for success offensively
and defensively, and for the Vikings it's the same. They're
set up offensively and defensively for McCarthy just to come
in and don't make mistakes. But he's going to be
(17:32):
asked to do more. And when he is asked to
do more, can he deliver to the degree that Vikings fans,
Hope and the Vikings organization homes because we're not asking
you to throw the ball fifteen times a game. You're
(17:56):
still going to be asked to throw the ball twenty
plus times a game, and you're going to be asked
to deliver big wins against the visional opponents and the
toughest division in football and make the throws to do so.
So I don't know if McCarthy is ready to do that.
(18:19):
That is my biggest doubt. If McCarthy can step in
and be that guy for the Vikings right away, I
think it's going to take time. That's the show for today.
Thank you for making this podcast part of your day.
Five Star Best Solutions in Minneapolis check them out today.
Speaker 1 (18:38):
Everyone, help you have a good day.
The Grind, a Minnesota sports podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
It's been twelve thousand, three hundred and seven days since
the Minnesota Twins hoisted the World Series Trophy in nineteen
ninety one. But this is the Grind and we continue
grinding along with the Minnesota sports teams. Welcome into the
show lost to discuss today. Someone is predicting the Minnesota
(00:26):
Vikings to finish last in the NFC North.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Are they right?
Speaker 2 (00:31):
And why it would be absurd for the Minnesota Timberwolves
to pursue Bradley Beal? What are they thinking? All of
that and more on today's show. But first, I need
to tell you about five Star Bess Solutions in Minneapolis,
because they transformed our bathroom in forty eight hours, and
(00:52):
that is their guarantee. They come in and remodel entire
bathrooms in forty eight hours. I'm docking the hall in Schilada.
All right, take a look at our bathroom.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Before.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
We had a blue floor, a blue step, moldy shower,
hand drails everywhere. Our bathroom was designed for an elderly couple.
But our problem is we aren't elderly. We're thirty three,
My wife is thirty.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
We had an old.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Sink, vanity countertop, ugly, disgusting, embarrassing and unhealthy. And they
came in and remodeled everything. A new floor, a new tub,
a new surround, the mold is gone, a new mirror.
We went from one sinks to two sinks. Five Star
bess Ilusions of Minneapolis remodeled our entire bathroom and we
got our bathroom back in two days. Perfect efficiency, cleansliness, amazing.
(01:49):
We love it and it is incredible. That's why I'm
telling you about it. Five Star Bass Solutions of Minneapolis.
Affordable pricing, free consultations. Five Star Bass Solutions of Minneapolis.
All right, let's start here. The Minnesota Timberwolves are reportedly
(02:10):
confirmed suitors for Bradley Beal. Beal just turned thirty one
years old and is expected to hit the unrestricted free
agency market after the Sons and Bradley Beal officially come
to terms on a buyout because the Sons are trying
(02:34):
to get underneath that second apron and Bradley Beal has
an absurd contract for the amount of production that he brings.
When you think about the Suns these last few years,
what a failed experiment you bring on a big three
(02:55):
of Devin Booker who's a high quality player, Kevin Durant
who's an NBA superstar, and Bradley Beal, who should be
that perfect third piece and what a field experiment. The
Sons are a perfect example of how throwing three random
(03:16):
good players on a roster doesn't always work. These last
few years, Beal last season seventeen points per game. The
season before eighteen points per game, played in fifty three
games last year, played in fifty three games two years ago,
and has not played in over sixty games in seven years.
(03:42):
Bradley Beal is riddled with injury history, and if the
Timberwolves bring him onto their roster, where is his fit?
Are you starting three guards Edwards Beal, McDaniels and then
the Goberl and Julius Randall. Is Bradley Beal coming off
(04:05):
the bat? According to Jake Fisher, he's an NBA insider.
The Timberwolves are confirmed suitors for Bradley Beal, but can
we be honest about it. When any player has hit
(04:26):
the market over the last two to three years, the
Timberwolves have always been reportedly interested in that player, it
would appear, and Bradley Beal is another player on that list.
(04:48):
Of guys the Timberwolves have been reportedly interested in.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
Now.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Beal is a solid player, but is he what the
Timberwolves need right now?
Speaker 1 (05:04):
I don't think so.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
The Timberwolves should do everything in their power to stay
away from Bradley Beal, and not because he can't bring production,
but because of his fit on the roster and because
of the injury history that he's been riddled with throughout
(05:28):
his entire career. The player Bradley Beal has only played
eighty two games twice in his career, has only eclipsed
the seventy game mark four times in his thirteen year career.
Bradley Beal's greatest weakness is being on the floor consistently.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
And I don't think.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
Bradley Beale steps into the Timberwolves organization and makes them better.
I don't see how or where he fits because I
don't see him in the starting lineup and I don't
see him as a player that alleviates pressure from Anthony Edwards.
(06:26):
And that really has been what this offseason has been
all about, because we saw it against the Thunder. We
saw Edwards trying to dissect the Thunder by himself, and
he wasn't able to do it. We thought last year
against the Mavericks, he tried to dissect the Mavericks by
himself and he wasn't able to do it. So this
(06:48):
offseason has been all about trying to alleviate pressure from
Anthony Edwards spread around the love offensively, and that's why
the Timberwolves were interested and laid out a trade package
to acquire Kevin Durant.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
At thirty seven years old.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
The only reason why that trade didn't go down is
because Durant wanted no part of the Timberwolves. So I
don't see where Beal fits within the Timberwolves' roster and plan,
(07:35):
and you look at his injury history and I just
don't see it.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
I would rather sign a Damian.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
Lillard to a veteran minimum contract because he's a guard
and if he can get enough, I believe that he
brings the Timberwolves more what they need than Bradley Beal does.
(08:09):
Bradley Beal a thirty eight percent three point shooter last year,
fifty percent from field goal percentage last year, good numbers,
solid player, but I just don't see the fit that
he would provide the Timberwolves organization and where that would
(08:31):
take the team all right.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Next story to quickly cover.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Mo motun no idea. Who that is is ex descriptor
of himself. NFL analyst and Raiders Daily host at Bleacher Report,
CNN and TNT Sports, US NFL contributor co host SBN
Today Via Odyssey, Raiders writer.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
He's predicting.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
The Minnesota Vikings to finish last in the NFC North.
He writes the Minnesota Vikings will go from one of
the league's biggest surprise playoff teams in twenty twenty four
to a disappointing squad this year. Why jj McCarthy. McCarthy's
(09:23):
experience could cause the Vikings some games. The QB could
struggle to the first half of the season before he
finds his rhythm. And that appears to be the general
consensus on what could hold the Minnesota Vikings back from
being a successful regular season and playoff team next season.
(09:50):
And I agree with what he's saying. I think it
is oblivious to think that McCarthy is going to step
in and be the quarterback that Sam Donald was for
(10:13):
the Minnesota Vikings last season. It takes time for quarterbacks
to establish themselves as solid players. Even Jaden Daniels last year.
His efficiency his completion percentage was solid immediately seventeen for
(10:41):
twenty four, twenty three for twenty nine, but through the
first five games of his NFL career he had four
touchdowns and two interceptions. That's less than a touchdown a game.
He finished with twenty five and nine passing and nine interceptions.
(11:05):
Phenomenal year, great rookie season and was the best rookie
player last year in the NFL. And then beats the
Detroit Lions, beats the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and gets blown
out against Philadelphia did advance to the Super Bowl. But
(11:25):
my point being, even the best rookie quarterback last year
took time to throw touchdowns in his first few games.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
Efficiency numbers were there.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
Completion his attempts, he completed sixty nine percent of his passes.
His first three games he completed seventy seventy nine.
Speaker 1 (11:54):
The dude was great, But I don't think think Jaden
Daniels is.
Speaker 2 (12:03):
The comp to JJ McCarthy because they aren't the same player.
A similar comp to JAJ McCarthy would be bow Knicks,
and bo Knicks didn't throw his first touchdown pass until
Week four of the NFL regular season.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
Zero touchdown, zero touchdowns, zero touchdowns.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
One touchdown, and he's still finished with twenty nine and twelve.
He still had a great regular season and the Broncos
made the playoffs. So bow Knicks played really well last
year and brought the Broncos. You a good quarterback play
(12:57):
to secure a playoff spot.
Speaker 1 (13:01):
The problem with.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
That is the Minutnesota Vikings still play in the toughest division.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
In football.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
Packers twice, Lions twice, Bears twice, and the Bears with
Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
Are only going to be better.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
And you would think the Lions might decrease a little
bit because of the coaching staff and the offensive line,
but the Packers will probably be about the same eleven
or twelve wins. I am not sold on McCarthy being
the player that Sam Donald was Last year. Donald threw
(13:51):
thirty five touchdowns and twelve picks. And you think about
the throw that Donald had against Seattle late in that game,
stepping up into the pocket about to get creamed and
sidearm delivers a perfect strike down the sidelines to Justin Jefferson.
When I think about last year, that was Sam Donald's
(14:13):
best throw. I don't think McCarthy is making that throw.
I don't think McCarthy is going to step in at
year one and deliver the Vikings to fourteen wins. I
don't think Donald would step in in year two and
deliver the Vikings to fourteen wins. And Donald is the
(14:35):
better quarterback right now. So you think about what could
potentially hold the Vikings back from winning games next season,
and it's McCarthy. Because the offensive line, the running backs,
(14:57):
the receivers, everything on the Vikings roster besides a few
secondary pieces is perfect right now. They could use a
little bit of cornerback help. I think Harrison Smith is aging.
He's not the player he once was, but he can
make a few impactful plays throughout the season. The defensive
(15:18):
line and offensive line are set up for success. Linebackers
should be fine. McCarthy is the biggest question mark on
the Vikings, and.
Speaker 1 (15:31):
To think that he is going.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
To step into this season and deliver an NFC North
Trophy to the Minnesota Vikings, I think is outrageous because
(15:55):
there will be growing pains for McCarthy as there is
every single rookie quarterback that enters the league, and you
look at McCarthy's tools, and I have never understood the
arm strength idea of people criticizing his arm strength because
(16:16):
you pull up the college statement, his arm strength is fine.
Speaker 1 (16:19):
The bomb that he had down.
Speaker 2 (16:20):
The sidelines in preseason when Justin Jefferson was miked up
with Paul Allen on the radio, beautiful throw. Arm strength
seems fine. His mind seems fine. Like the preparation, that's
never a question for McCarthy. The part that I wonder
(16:45):
is the amount of responsibility that he will have to
take on as starting QB. Now, the situation is similar
to Michigan. Just don't mess this thing up and the
Vikings might be fine, but more is demanded for NFL.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
Quarterbacks than college quarterbacks.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
McCarthy will be asked and demanded to do more for
the Vikings than he was his last year at Michigan
because at Michigan they were set up for success offensively
and defensively, and for the Vikings it's the same. They're
set up offensively and defensively for McCarthy just to come
in and don't make mistakes. But he's going to be
(17:32):
asked to do more. And when he is asked to
do more, can he deliver to the degree that Vikings fans,
Hope and the Vikings organization homes because we're not asking
you to throw the ball fifteen times a game. You're
(17:56):
still going to be asked to throw the ball twenty
plus times a game, and you're going to be asked
to deliver big wins against the visional opponents and the
toughest division in football and make the throws to do so.
So I don't know if McCarthy is ready to do that.
(18:19):
That is my biggest doubt. If McCarthy can step in
and be that guy for the Vikings right away, I
think it's going to take time. That's the show for today.
Thank you for making this podcast part of your day.
Five Star Best Solutions in Minneapolis check them out today.
Speaker 1 (18:38):
Everyone, help you have a good day.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!