StribSports Daily Delivery

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the NBA draft, where the Wolves took 18-year-old French big man Joan Beringer with the 17th pick of the first round. He's a project but a defensive-minded one at that. What you think of the pick is in the eyes of the beholder. 9:00: La Velle E. Neal III joins Rand for their weekly debate segment. In focus: Are the Wild going to be able to upgrade at center? Will the new Wolves owners get the arena debate right? And can the Twins get out of their funk? 35:00: Good results for both Minnesota United and the Twins.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Twins and some novel ideas to shake them out of their funk. Plus the Lynx lost for just the second time all season, reinforcing the value of Napheesa Collier. 9:00: Star Tribune Wolves writer Chris Hine joins Rand for a breakdown of the team's ownership change. How will new owners Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez run the team? Plus a look at this week's draft, free agency and any hints of other big moves ahead. 32:00: The Frost made defense a priority in the PWHL draft.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Gophers football program landing the top recruit in Minnesota for the third straight year. This time it was Roman Voss, who picked the Gophers over several premier programs, including Alabama. Plus some good news for St. Thomas and the new Timberwolves owners. 10:00: Star Tribune columnist Jim Souhan joins Rand for a conversation about the excellence of the Lynx and the free-fall of the Twins. 31:00: Derek Falvey is trying to reassure us.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports, which did not include any wins for the Twins. They sit at 37-40 after being swept by the Brewers, and their pitching staff is in shambles. Reusse argues that now is the time for the Twins to deal some of their best relief pitchers. Plus reaction -- more or less relief -- to news that Kevin Durant wound up in Houston instead of Minnesota. And a look ahead to NBA and NHL drafts and free agency.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Pacers' blowout win over Oklahoma City in Game 6 of the NBA Finals on Thursday. We've seen enough in this series to make some declarations about what the Timberwolves can learn from Indiana as the series heads to a Game 7. Plus the Twins ended their losing streak in a big way. 10:00: Boys basketball recruiting expert Ryan James joins Rand to break down how he compiles player rankings and share some players to watch over the summer and beyond. 30:00: Streaming overtakes cable and satellite.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with a curiosity about why analytics projections have the Vikings as a middle-of-the-pack team in the NFL this season. Plus another Twins loss has them below .500. 12:00: La Velle E. Neal III joins Rand for their weekly debate segment. In focus: Chris Finch and the NBA Finals, Twins as buyers or sellers and Florida supplanting Minnesota (OK not really) as the State of Hockey. 37:00: Jaire Alexander is signing with the Ravens for a small amount of money and the Lakers are getting sold for a large amount of money.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with another close loss for the Twins, this time 6-5 at the Reds. They have lost their last seven one-run games in falling to .500, and many culprits have surfaced. Plus the Lynx defeated the Aces but will have to watch Napheesa Collier's back injury. 8:00: Jon Marthaler joins Rand for a look at Minnesota United at roughly the halfway point of the MLS season. Where do the Loons stand? 28:00: Chris Finch isn't watching the NBA Finals, and Florida is once again the state of hockey.

Host Michael Rand starts with a big stretch of games for the Twins, who have fallen to 36-35 after a recent 2-8 stretch. Can they turn their luck (and play) against several teams similar to them? 5:00: Star Tribune Timberwolves writer Chris Hine joins Rand for a look at the Wolves' big offseason questions. To trade or not to trade? Which free agents can they keep? And who will they take in the draft? 28:00: The Thunder are one win away and the Lynx have a big opportunity.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports, one that took on a somber tone as athletes and teams around town grappled with the shooting of two Minnesota state legislators and their spouses. In the sports realm, Reusse and Rand talked about the legacy of Seimone Augustus, the free-fall of the Twins and how the Wolves (thankfully) are on the outside looking in at the Kevin Durant sweepstakes. Plus a memorable U.S. Open finish and a rant about those who back into parking spaces.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with Byron Buxton's amazing third inning, during which he robbed Texas of a run-scoring extra-base hit in the top half and then clobbered a three-run, 479-foot homer in the bottom half. It changed the trajectory of the game, for sure, and perhaps this part of the Twins' season. Plus some roster moves add up to goodbye, Jorge Alcala. 9:00: La Velle E. Neal III joins Rand for their weekly debate segment. In focus: Chris Finch, the Twins' pitching injuries and the Vikings' commitment to running the ball. 29:00: The Pacers won, the Lynx lost and Paige Bueckers shined.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the comical, nonsensical and now personal Knicks coaching search, which reportedly included an attempt by New York to talk to current Wolves coach Chris Finch. Minnesota of course turned them down. Rand also gets to the 16-4 Twins loss, which didn't inspire faith in Simeon Woods Richardson. 12:00: Minnesota Star Tribune college football writer Randy Johnson joins Rand to discuss the impact of the house settlement on the Gophers. Plus recruiting news from P.J. Fleck's team. 31:00: Josh Oliver's extension is another signal the Vikings are prioritizing the run game.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with two players who have been on his mind lately. Darius Garland of the Cavaliers and Jaire Alexander recently of the Packers are names to consider as upgrades for Minnesota teams. How will they be viewed by local decisionmakers who seem to have much more patience than their predecessors? 12:00: Bobby Nightengale joins Rand to break down the state of the Twins. How will they survive without Pablo Lopez and Zebby Matthews? And what's new with the sale of the team? 32:00: Simeon Woods-Richardson and David Festa will get chances the next two nights to give the Twins a boost.

Introduction: Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports. They start with the Twins, who are dealing with not one but two injuries now to their starting rotation with Pablo Lopez and Zebby Matthews. Can they remain competitive? Plus a look at the 9-0 Lynx, the NBA Finals, a tennis match for the ages and ... World War I?

Host Michael Rand starts with Aaron Rodgers reportedly agreeing to sign with the Steelers, a development that came mere hours after Rand became convinced during a lunchtime run that Rodgers coming to Minnesota was a coin flip proposition. Plus the Pacers pulled off another improbable rally in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, stunning the Thunder in a way the Wolves could not. 10:00: Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins joins Rand for a look at the Wolves' ideal offseason in addition to what expectations should be for the Vikings and where we stand with the College Football Playoff. 41:00: A long, strange road trip ended with a football loss for the Twins.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with questions about Sam Darnold's job status already surfacing in Seattle. Are they fair, and would we be hearing them if he had a different name? Plus a wild Wolves rumor from Paul Pierce. 10:00: La Velle E. Neal III joins Rand for their Daily Delivery Debate segment, talking about Chris Finch, Pablo Lopez and the Lynx. 26:00: Roger Maris for the Hall of Fame?

Introduction: On a jam-packed episode, host Michael Rand starts with the life of Vikings great Jim Marshall, who died Tuesday at age 87. So many signs point to him being a Hall of Famer. He never made it, but that doesn't diminish his career. Plus a very newsy Twins game and the Lynx are 8-0 for the fourth time in their history. 10:00: Star Tribune Wolves writer Chris Hine joins Rand for a discussion of his new "Ant" book and to break down key facets of the team's offseason. Is Darius Garland a name to watch? 34:00: Thibs is gone.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Twins' best inning on Monday, when they escaped a bases loaded jam and followed with a big two-out hit in a win over the A's. Plus the key comment from Wolves boss Tim Connelly and a minor Wild move. 9:00: Andrew Krammer joins Rand for an update from early Vikings practices, including how J.J. McCarthy is looking. 31:00: Justin Jefferson's presence and the Lynx putting their undefeated record on the line.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports, which included three dramatic Twins games (but only one win) in Seattle. Along the way, Royce Lewis continued to struggle. Does he need to be sent back to the minors? Plus they get into the Wolves offseason and Chris Finch's curious quote about needing to expand the playing rotation. And the Lynx are undefeated while the Loons finally won in Seattle.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Wolves exit interviews and some interesting comments from Mike Conley Jr. about the future. Plus the Knicks showed up in Game 5 but the Stars did not. 10:00: Phil Miller joins Rand for a Twins sale update. 30:00: Royce Lewis is beyond slumping. He's despondent.

Host Michael Rand starts with extra thoughts on the Timberwolves. They were blown out in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals for the second straight season. That disappointing finish comes in contrast to their best two-year run in franchise history. What will the offseason bring? 13:00: Star Tribune columnist La Velle E. Neal III joins Rand to talk about an update on the Twins sale, J.J. McCarthy mania and giving the Frost their frozen flowers. 30:00: Twins and Loons scoreless, but one happier than the other.

Host Michael Rand starts with intrigue about NFL quarterbacks. We should get our first look in a while at J.J. McCarthy this week. Kirk Cousins was a no-show at OTAs in Atlanta. And Terry Bradshaw ripped the still available Aaron Rodgers. Plus another good Twins win and a dominant 5-0 start for the Lynx. 10:00: Star Tribune writer and Wolves fan Jeff Day joins Rand to set up Game 5 in Oklahoma City. Day has far more optimism than most that there will be a Game 6 at Target Center. 39:00: Can Ant have his Halliburton game?

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the long weekend in sports. Monday's Game 4 Wolves loss to Oklahoma City was of course fresh and front-brain, with Reusse saying even though Minnesota lost just 128-126 he never thought the Wolves were going to win. The Thunder can end the series Wednesday in Oklahoma City. Plus thoughts on the Twins and a championship for the Frost.

Michael Rand and Ryan Kostecka break down Minnesota's 128-126 loss to Oklahoma City in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals.

Host Michael Rand starts with the Wolves' 118-103 loss to Oklahoma City in Game 2 Thursday, one which confirmed the Thunder are the better team but also showed Minnesota is not playing its best basketball. Several players are struggling, the intensity has been too sporadic and coach Chris Finch pushed the wrong buttons Thursday. Plus a dramatic overtime win by the Minnesota Frost to even their PWHL championship series. 9:00: Vikings writer Emily Leiker joins Rand to break down the news from the owners' meetings and to set up Vikings OTAs next week. We should get our first real looks at J.J. McCarthy in a long time. 27:00: A big series awaits for the Twins.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with Indiana's shocking comeback against the Knicks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals. Down 14 with less than three minutes to play, the Pacers rallied to force overtime and win. The Wolves had a similar comeback in the regular season against Oklahoma City and must carry that same resilience into Thursday's Game 2. Plus the Twins and Lynx managed to avoid bad losses and pull out important wins on Wednesday. 11:00: La Velle E. Neal III joins Rand for the Daily Delivery Debate on the Wolves and the "Tush Push". 29:00: A Loons win and a Frost opportunity.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with some lingering thoughts from the Wolves' blowout 114-88 loss to the Thunder in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals. In some ways it was a make-or-miss game, with the Wolves missing a lot of open shots. In other ways, it came down to composure. Minnesota will need to be better in both capacities on Thursday. 9:00: Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins joins Rand to talk about Paige Bueckers, the former Hopkins standout who will return to Minnesota for her third WNBA game on Wednesday. 26:00: An OT loss for the Frost and another wet day for the Twins.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Twins' pitching staff, which has been tremendous this season but could be stretched thin over the next couple of days as rain wreaks havoc on the team's schedule. Plus a look at the tush push, which could be on the way out of the NFL. 9:00: Star Tribune Timberwolves writer Chris Hine joins Rand to break down the Wolves vs. Thunder. Game 1 is tonight in Oklahoma City. 25:00: Athlete rankings, Paige Bueckers comes home and the Minnesota Frost go for another championship.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports. They start with Oklahoma City's decisive Game 7 win Sunday over Denver, which set up the Western Conference finals against the Wolves. Minnesota will have its hands full with the Thunder's depth, but an elusive championship is just eight wins away. The Twins' 13-game winning streak ended Sunday, but their season has been altered. Now they must weather the storm of injuries. Plus a strong start by the Lynx and a gamut of amateur baseball for Reusse.

We're excited to introduce Worth It, a new show from The Minnesota Star Tribune and Lemonada Media.Each week, editor Nicole Norfleet and columnist Aaron Brown are joined by people who know Minnesota inside and out – reaching into the spaces you might not know to share the stories worth your attention, the places worth a look, and the events worth your time – and money.In this episode, whether you kayak, canoe or paddleboard - or you want to - we'll hear the best paddling routes to try in the Twin Cities metro. There's a new show about a real-life Minnesota woman-cowboy-detective from the 1800s. Plus, why you should think “salvage” for home remodeling and the cost to raise a kid here.After you listen, be sure to follow Worth It wherever you get your podcasts, or head to: https://lemonada.lnk.to/WorthItStarTribunefd

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Timberwolves' getting the best outcome again as Denver pushed Oklahoma City to a Game 7 in their conference semifinal series. The Wolves will have ample time to rest and wonder: Who would they rather play? 7:00: La Velle E. Neal III joins Rand for their weekly debate segment. In focus: Ranking the Wolves' top eight players in terms of importance to the team; red-hot Twins; and a Vikings vs. Bears early prediction. 30:00: Twins win but a scary collision between Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa could be trouble.

On another jam-packed episode, host Michael Rand starts with the Wolves and the accomplishment of returning to the final four of their league -- something no other Minnesota major men's pro sports team has done in roughly a half-century. Plus the Frost advanced, too, and the Twins won their 10th in a row. What a night in Minnesota sports. 13:00: Kent Youngblood joins Rand to preview the Lynx season, which begins Friday in Dallas. They, too, will be trying to get back to where they were a year ago. 27:00: The Loons lost and the Vikings have a bunch of interesting games this season.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Wolves' opportunity Wednesday to knock out Golden State in five games. They are heavy favorites at Target Center, but now is not the time for complacency as the rest of the NBA playoffs have shown. 9:00: Jerry Zgoda from the Star Tribune joins Rand to help break down the other closeout game. The Frost have a 2-1 lead on Toronto in the PWHL playoffs and can win the series Wednesday at Xcel Energy Center. 19:00: Why do the Rockies draw good crowds even though they are bad?

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Timberwolves after their Game 4 win over Golden State gave them a commanding 3-1 series lead in the Western Conference semifinals. It looked like the kind of game Anthony Edwards was going to need to dominate, and he did so in the third quarter. Plus a novel idea for eliminating late starts and a suspicious NBA Lottery drawing. 11:00: Star Tribune baseball writer Phil Miller joins Rand for a breakdown of the Twins' current eight-game winning streak. 31:00: The Vikings are heading to Ireland and London.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports, which included another sweep for the Twins. They have won eight games in a row and are above .500 after a wretched 7-15 start. The Wolves grinded out a 102-97 win over Golden State in Game 3 of their playoff series on Saturday. Wolves fans complained that it was ugly, but no playoff victory should get that description. Game 4 is Monday night. Plus a Loons win over Messi's Miami squad and another Frost playoff win as well.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Wolves' 117-93 win over Golden State in Game 2 on Thursday. They could afford to cruise a little in that win because of Steph Curry's absence. They will need more gas in Games 3 and 4 in Golden State if they want to lock down a series in which they are the decided favorites. Plus the Twins won their fifth in a row, with Byron Buxton continuing to play at an elite level. 9:00: Jon Marthaler joins Rand to talk Minnesota United soccer. The Loons are slated to play Inter Miami on Saturday at Allianz Field. Will Lionel Messi be in Miami's lineup? 25:00: Ben Goessling reports that the Vikings are "likely" to play back-to-back international games this year in Dublin and London.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Twins, who have put together a 10-5 stretch after their awful 7-15 start. We've been focused on a lot of other things, but maybe the baseball team is starting to find its identity. 6:00: La Velle E. Neal III joins Rand for the Daily Delivery debate on three subjects: Panic time for the Wolves; offseason priorities for the Wild; and Lionel Messi's star power. 25:00: The best and worst ways tonight's Wolves game could go were on display Wednesday, and the Frost dropped their playoff opener.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand does the show in reverse, starting with his interview with Gophers men's basketball coach Niko Medved. You'll learn what Medved loves about coaching, how he views his current players and what it is like to recruit in the modern game. He's been on the job only six weeks and it's been a whirlwind of activity. 22:00: Rand breaks down Wolves vs. Warriors and finds three things Minnesota must overcome to win the series. 28:00: The Twins look more like themselves.

Host Michael Rand starts with the volatility of the NBA conference semifinals, during which Cleveland, Boston and Oklahoma City all lost Game 1 of their series after being heavy favorites. Can the Timberwolves learn lessons from those games? 7:00: Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins joins Rand to break down the matchup against Golden State and to spin ahead to what should be a busy offseason for the Wild. 30:00: The Frost are about to embark on a championship defense.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports, which included Golden State's win over Houston on Sunday that set up the Western Conference semifinals against the Wolves. Between Jimmy Butler, Steph Curry and Draymond Green, there are a ton of storylines to devour as the series gets set to begin at Target Center on Tuesday. Plus Reusse and Rand get into the Twins, who disgusted Reusse so much Sunday that he shut off his TV before Minnesota rallied to beat Boston. And the Wild's postseason exit felt different this time.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Wild, who were eliminated in six games (again) after having a 2-1 series lead (again). This time it was Vegas, but the opponent doesn't seem to matter. The Wild will have money to spend this offseason, but nine straight postseason series losses suggest a deeper organizational problem than just finances. 9:00: Star Tribune writer and Wolves fan Jeff Day checks in with Rand on the five-game series win over the Lakers and expectations going forward. 31:00: The Twins are 1-6 in one-run games.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with five narratives the Wolves destroyed along with flattening the Lakers in five games. 11:00: La Velle E. Neal III joins Rand for their weekly debate segment, focusing on the Wild, Lynx and Vikings. 32:00: The Twins sputtered on offense and the Frost kept their season alive.

Michael Rand and Ryan Kostecka break down the Wolves' five-game series win over the Lakers, capped by a 103-96 win in Los Angeles on Wednesday.