RealGM

Borrowing ideas from recent threads:

Memphis trade: Smart, 9
Memphis receive: Allen, 27

Minnesota trade: Reid, 27
Minnesota receive: Niang, 9

Cleveland trade: Allen, Niang
Cleveland receive: Smart, Reid

Why for Memphis: fill hole in C
why for Minnesota: add a lotto pick for Reid (and their late 1st)
Why for Cleveland: turn Allen into a stretch 5 and improve perimeter D

This is really good for Cleveland but it's probably best without Minnesota, whose only goal of trading is to get out of the 2nd Apron. Honestly, Minnesota very likely just runs it back with the same Top 7 and then extends Gobert while lowering his 2025-2026 base.

Cleveland just does Allen+20 for Smart+9+39

I don't mind the value really for anyone. I do have Minny as the toughest sell here. And if they drop out, I'm not sold Cleveland stays in. I think they also don't want to take a step back especially while trying to convince Spida to stick around.

Texas Chuck wrote:I don't mind the value really for anyone. I do have Minny as the toughest sell here. And if they drop out, I'm not sold Cleveland stays in. I think they also don't want to take a step back especially while trying to convince Spida to stick around.

Maybe a different 3rd team is needed, maybe New Orleans taking on Garland+#9 for Ingram+Teens Picks?

Colbinii wrote:This is really good for Cleveland but it's probably best without Minnesota, whose only goal of trading is to get out of the 2nd Apron. Honestly, Minnesota very likely just runs it back with the same Top 7 and then extends Gobert while lowering his 2025-2026 base.

Cleveland just does Allen+20 for Smart+9+39

I think this is the eventual trade if there is one. Maybe swapping Aldama for 39.

The Cavs aren't going to want Smart.

I think the actual trade here would be Niang + #20 for Reid if there's a way to make that work, or dump Niang on another team with 2nds.

toooskies wrote:I think the actual trade here would be Niang + #20 for Reid if there's a way to make that work, or dump Niang on another team with 2nds.

For Clevelan, not Minnesota.

What exactly does this accomplish for Minnesota?

Colbinii wrote:

toooskies wrote:I think the actual trade here would be Niang + #20 for Reid if there's a way to make that work, or dump Niang on another team with 2nds.

For Clevelan, not Minnesota.

What exactly does this accomplish for Minnesota?

Salary saving and a player on a rookie scale contract, or the Wolves take that pick and the TPE and get back a smaller salaried guy who they want.

jbk1234 wrote:

Colbinii wrote:

toooskies wrote:I think the actual trade here would be Niang + #20 for Reid if there's a way to make that work, or dump Niang on another team with 2nds.

For Clevelan, not Minnesota.

What exactly does this accomplish for Minnesota?

Salary saving

They would still be in the 2nd Apron

and a player on a rookie scale contract,

They already have 3 of those rotting on the bench. They will be adding a 4th with pick #27.

So you think a Win-Now, Top 5 team in the NBA needs to have a 5th rookie-scale salary rotting on the bench instead of the 6MOY playing meaningful playoff minutes?

or the Wolves take that pick and the TPE and get back a smaller salaried guy who they want.

And who fits that?

Also, Minnesota would need to really get creative because they can only use a TPE generated in the same year as a 2nd Apron team.

But, your idea is that Minnesota trades Naz Reid for a worse player and then uses a TPE and #20 for another worse player?

Minnesota trading Reid? I don’t think they would, but if they did, it would be a better package than this. I see them trading KAT and starting Reid if anything.

Colbinii wrote:

jbk1234 wrote:

Colbinii wrote:
For Clevelan, not Minnesota.

What exactly does this accomplish for Minnesota?

Salary saving

They would still be in the 2nd Apron

and a player on a rookie scale contract,

They already have 3 of those rotting on the bench. They will be adding a 4th with pick #27.

So you think a Win-Now, Top 5 team in the NBA needs to have a 5th rookie-scale salary rotting on the bench instead of the 6MOY playing meaningful playoff minutes?

or the Wolves take that pick and the TPE and get back a smaller salaried guy who they want.

And who fits that?

Also, Minnesota would need to really get creative because they can only use a TPE generated in the same year as a 2nd Apron team.

But, your idea is that Minnesota trades Naz Reid for a worse player and then uses a TPE and #20 for another worse player?

No, my idea is the Wolves trade Reid for a first and a TPE. That's what I wrote and that's what I meant. Tooskie wrote that the Cavs could send 2nds and Niang to a third team as well. If it doesn't work for the Wolves, it doesn't work.

Memphis should keep Smart if they want to contend next season.

Otherwise, the value seems there.

toooskies wrote:I think the actual trade here would be Niang + #20 for Reid if there's a way to make that work, or dump Niang on another team with 2nds.

Minnesota can do much better than Niang and the 20th pick in a bad draft for Reid.

jbk1234 wrote:

Colbinii wrote:

toooskies wrote:I think the actual trade here would be Niang + #20 for Reid if there's a way to make that work, or dump Niang on another team with 2nds.

For Clevelan, not Minnesota.

What exactly does this accomplish for Minnesota?

Salary saving and a player on a rookie scale contract, or the Wolves take that pick and the TPE and get back a smaller salaried guy who they want.

It’s a terrible trade for Minnesota. I would love it, but I can’t imagine Cleveland gets that lucky.

DowJones wrote:

jbk1234 wrote:

Colbinii wrote:
For Clevelan, not Minnesota.

What exactly does this accomplish for Minnesota?

Salary saving and a player on a rookie scale contract, or the Wolves take that pick and the TPE and get back a smaller salaried guy who they want.

It’s a terrible trade for Minnesota. I would love it, but I can’t imagine Cleveland gets that lucky.

That's not my read of what Toooskie suggested. He's saying the Cavs trade 2nds plus Niang to a 3rd team and Minny gets a TPE and No. 20. Now if the primary motivation is to save money, maintain flexibility, and pick up an asset, I'm struggling to see how that's terrible.

Do they want a better player than Niang making half as much? Why would the other team do that?

jbk1234 wrote:

DowJones wrote:

jbk1234 wrote:
Salary saving and a player on a rookie scale contract, or the Wolves take that pick and the TPE and get back a smaller salaried guy who they want.

It’s a terrible trade for Minnesota. I would love it, but I can’t imagine Cleveland gets that lucky.

That's not my read of what Toooskie suggested. He's saying the Cavs trade 2nds plus Niang to a 3rd team and Minny gets a TPE and No. 20. Now if the primary motivation is to save money, maintain flexibility, and pick up an asset, I'm struggling to see how that's terrible.

Do they want a better player than Niang making half as much? Why would the other team do that?

It’s terrible because they can do better than the 20th pick for Naz Reid. The financial part is fine, but there are a number of teams that could offer some seconds to a 3rd team. What matters is the front end asset.

I also wonder how many teams would take 2 years of Niang for just a couple of second rounders.

DowJones wrote:

jbk1234 wrote:

DowJones wrote:
It’s a terrible trade for Minnesota. I would love it, but I can’t imagine Cleveland gets that lucky.

That's not my read of what Toooskie suggested. He's saying the Cavs trade 2nds plus Niang to a 3rd team and Minny gets a TPE and No. 20. Now if the primary motivation is to save money, maintain flexibility, and pick up an asset, I'm struggling to see how that's terrible.

Do they want a better player than Niang making half as much? Why would the other team do that?

It’s terrible because they can do better than the 20th pick for Naz Reid. The financial part is fine, but there are a number of teams that could offer some seconds to a 3rd team. What matters is the front end asset.

I also wonder how many teams would take 2 years of Niang for just a couple of second rounders.

I think Niang could be dumped for a couple 2nds. He is a great locker room guy and has a plug-and-play skill-sets, especially for a team who needs veteran bodies like Detroit or Washington.

DowJones wrote:

jbk1234 wrote:

DowJones wrote:
It’s a terrible trade for Minnesota. I would love it, but I can’t imagine Cleveland gets that lucky.

That's not my read of what Toooskie suggested. He's saying the Cavs trade 2nds plus Niang to a 3rd team and Minny gets a TPE and No. 20. Now if the primary motivation is to save money, maintain flexibility, and pick up an asset, I'm struggling to see how that's terrible.

Do they want a better player than Niang making half as much? Why would the other team do that?

It’s terrible because they can do better than the 20th pick for Naz Reid. The financial part is fine, but there are a number of teams that could offer some seconds to a 3rd team. What matters is the front end asset.

I also wonder how many teams would take 2 years of Niang for just a couple of second rounders.

The Wolves need the salary savings due to the ownership fight. That's the most important part. They wouldn't be moving Naz at all otherwise. So yes, they can get a better player, but that player needs to make $6M less than Naz, and that part isn't easy.

jbk1234 wrote:

DowJones wrote:

jbk1234 wrote:
That's not my read of what Toooskie suggested. He's saying the Cavs trade 2nds plus Niang to a 3rd team and Minny gets a TPE and No. 20. Now if the primary motivation is to save money, maintain flexibility, and pick up an asset, I'm struggling to see how that's terrible.

Do they want a better player than Niang making half as much? Why would the other team do that?

It’s terrible because they can do better than the 20th pick for Naz Reid. The financial part is fine, but there are a number of teams that could offer some seconds to a 3rd team. What matters is the front end asset.

I also wonder how many teams would take 2 years of Niang for just a couple of second rounders.

The Wolves need the salary savings due to the ownership fight. That's the most important part. They wouldn't be moving Naz at all otherwise. So yes, they can get a better player, but that player needs to make $6M less than Naz, and that part isn't easy.

OKC trades 12 for Reid pretty readily imo. Ditto for Philly and 16