I have had an idea that I have been sharing with family and friends, but we all agreed that it is lopsided. That said...
Min: Eric Bledsoe(S+T*), Eric Gordon
Out: Kevin Martin, Corey Brewer, Chase Budinger, Jose Juan Barea, Unprotected 2015 first round draft pick (lift protections), Unprotected 2017 second round New Orleans Pelicans draft pick (New Orleans lifts protections),
PHX: Corey Brewer, Jeff Withey, 2015 Unprotected first round draft pick (lifted protection from Minnesota), 2017 Unprotected second round draft pick (lifted protection from New Orleans), Sacramento 2016 second round draft pick (31-55 protected)
Out: Eric Bledsoe
NOL: Kevin Martin, Chase Budinger, Jose Juan Barea.
Out: Eric Gordon, Jeff Withey, Protection on 2017 second round pick (to Phoenix from Minnesota), Sacramento 2016 second round draft pick (31-55 protected)
What people tend to forget is that you can actually lift protections from already outgoing picks. Because of this, the Timberwolves would be able to add a very good asset in that pick in case injuries or continuity would not work (very possible with both of the Eric's).
My original trade involved Glenn Robinson III, but it is too late for that. Obviously this is lopsided, but it is a little thing I came up with.
Roster (though not the "official" depth chart) for the Timberwolves:
Ricky Rubio/Eric Bledsoe/Mo Williams/Zach LaVine
Eric Gordon/Eric Bledsoe/Shabazz Muhammad/Zach LaVine/Glenn Robinson III
Andrew Wiggins/Shabazz Muhammad/Thaddeus Young/Robbie Hummel
Thaddeus Young/Anthony Bennett/Robbie Hummel/Shabazz Muhammad/Gorgui Dieng
Nikola Pekovic/Gorgui Dieng/Ronnie Turiaf
* Eric Bledsoe's contract on a 12 Million 15% escalating deal over four years (just under 60 million). This makes finances barely work for Minnesota (Literally by 0.15 million).
Why for Minnesota? They use their stash of solid wings to get a fantastic, albeit horribly injury prone, point guard in Eric Bledsoe, and an over-payed, terribly injured, yet still solid when playing, Eric Gordon. They take a massive risk for an even more massive reward.
Why for Phoenix? They are clearly in a situation of not wanting to pay Bledsoe, but not wanting to lose him for nothing. They likely will let him take the Qualifying Offer, and make him play out his year, but getting assets for him is a more optimal scenario. They get a solid wing in Brewer who fits perfectly in their concept, and hope for the Timberwolves to crash and burn, gietting from them the unprotected pick. In addition they get a potentially solid back up big man in Jeff Withey with a couple of seconds.
Why for New Orleans? They clear the albatross contract or Gordon for two incredibly solid players in Kevin Martin (who can get them twenty a night), Chase Budinger (injury risk, but is a sniper whether the stats like it or not who can get you ten a night), and take on J.J. for a season. Eric Gordon may be slightly better, but the injuries and consistency make him an absolute mess for their current team. This has been rehashed a million times, so I will leave it there. New Orleans may have to cough up a small amount more.
Issues: This may not be enough for Phoenix, and they could be in a better position to ride out Eric Bledsoe's one year. That said, could they legitimately get more? That is where the values differ.
What is "off the block" - The Timberwolves will likely not trade any of their rookie or sophomore players for the risk of Bledsoe. Sorry, but the risk/reward is not worth giving those players. That may sound greedy, but it is what it is. That said Glenn Robinson can be traded after thirty days, so that is a consideration. Of course there are other issues with this, such as guaranteed contract numbers, but it is always something minor to consider.
I should add that I know this would never happen, but I am very curious as to the opinion of the values for all teams involved.
Okie Dokey, how can it be improved?