MIN - POR

[shrink]

Anyone have an update on the health of Luke Ridnour's son? I heard he's out of the hospital, but if we wanted to be humanitarians, POR is only three hours from Seattle, and could use Ridnour more than we us. I'm not trying to drum up huge value here - just move Luke closer to home, so how about this?

POR GETS: Ridnour

MIN GETS: Babbitt + Earl Barron (unguaranteed) + rights to Claver (in spain)

Babbitt's been awful, we don't need him, and POR picked up his option for 2012-13, but he's cheap, has a little size, and may be a prospect we can toss to another team. Barron gets waived to add to our cap space. Maybe Claver comes over from Spain - he played on the Spanish National team with Ricky. ::shrug::

http://www.nba.com/playerfile/luke_babbitt/

[The J Rocka]

I remember yelling at the TV screen when we drafted Babbitt. I think I'd rather get TPE or picks for Ridnour.

With Felton & Nolan Smith, I don't see them needing another PG.

[Krapinsky]

Sounds like Kahn + Adelman sincerely want to keep Ridnour and I think this trade might actually cost us some wins. And so I think we're better off keeping him for now than doing this deal. I think if we want to move him later we'll still be able to do so and there's nothing here that makes me want to pull the trigger. I'd also rather have Ridnour's salary for his production than Babbit's, who I think is more like a Lazar Hayward equivalent.

[Fire Mchale]

I think I would rather see the Wolves sit on Ridnour until closer to the deadline. I'm not convinced he'll be without trade value closer to the deadline. He's a functional, vet PG who is ok being a role player with a contract that isn't exactly caustic. As it sits, this will be a difficult year on teams physically and I don't see the Wolves wanted to play Rubio anything more than 25 or so minutes a game this year. 3 PGs may be a necessity.

On a different line, the Clippers have absolutely zero depth at C and PF - what are our thoughts on gauging their interest in Pekovic and seeing if we can gain some cap space and perhaps a pick for him?

[shrink]

For straight trade value, I see Ridnour as slightly positive. He's a good back-up PG, like most - with some decent skills and some struggles. Most importantly .. he's paid appropriately. I don't mind keeping him, I don't mind him moving on if he'd like to be closer to his family at this point.

I don't expect to get big value out of the guy, but we should be able to break even. I doubt we'd get a 1st for him, but cap space is a reasonable request .. maybe some cash, a 2nd, or some prospects.

I would assume we'd move Babbitt to some team that wanted a PF prospect - maybe for some more cap space and some cash. Meanwhile, it's Ridnour at $3.7 (no upside) or Babbitt at $1.7 (some upside?). ::shrug::

Klaver's an OK prospect (drafted 22 in 2009), and he doesn't take up salary or a roster spot.

I don't have strong opinions on this trade either way. I just thought it might be something that would help Luke, and saw that POR would have more demand for his services than us (they don't trust Noah Smith, and Felton is no star).

[shrink]

BTW, if any of our international posters have any input on how Claver's been doing lately, I'd love to hear it.

[re49gb_2gho32fp]

get HOU involved and do

Camby / Darko

[lobishome]

BTW, if any of our international posters have any input on how Claver's been doing lately, I'd love to hear it.

This is a great controversy in Spain but IMO his NBA value is near to zero.

[Foye]

Babbitt? Not wasting a roster spot on him. I don't know much about Claver.

[younggunsmn]

Claver's cap hold counts against us in the offseason, but not the regular season.

Interesting idea shrink. I guess it depends on what you think of Claver.
Babbit's stock is low, but he is far from washed up as a prospect in only his 2nd year.
At this point I'd stick with Ridnour until we see how the team shapes up.
I also think there will be a better market for Ridnour as we get closer to the deadline.

From Portland's perspective, they already have felton/crawford/nolan smith/patty milss RFA at the point and are in the luxury tax. So I can't see them doing this.

[cojayar]

BTW, if any of our international posters have any input on how Claver's been doing lately, I'd love to hear it.

He is injured (six weeks) due to a broken toe. I think it is one of those players who never materialize their potential. But he is good enough for the bench of any NBA team.

[shrink]

Claver's cap hold counts against us in the offseason, but not the regular season.

Interesting idea shrink. I guess it depends on what you think of Claver.
Babbit's stock is low, but he is far from washed up as a prospect in only his 2nd year.
At this point I'd stick with Ridnour until we see how the team shapes up.
I also think there will be a better market for Ridnour as we get closer to the deadline.

From Portland's perspective, they already have felton/crawford/nolan smith/patty milss RFA at the point and are in the luxury tax. So I can't see them doing this.

I didn't know that much about Claver - just the general info from when he was drafted for a 1st round pick, and that he played on the Spanish National team with Ricky. Most of these Euro's never come over, so I figured he had a slightly better chance of coming to Madrideapolis, so I figured he would be worth more to us.

Posters on the POR trade board seemed to think they would have plenty of use for Ridnour. I just think that if Claver has little value, and the cap space has little value, then most MIN fans would rather keep the best player in the deal - Ridnour.

I'd be happy to move him closer to his home if he prefered, but I'd like the wolves to at least break even on the deal.

[Saltine]

He's more useful to us as a backup PG and 3pt shooter. No sense moving him for essentially nothing unless he wants to leave.

[Peezo]

Interesting deal and motives. I wonder if Luke really wants the move. I mean I could see why he would a la Derrick Fisher from the Jazz back to the Lakers, but until he actually said that was his desire I couldn't see a deal going through.

I would also see if we couldn't get a third team worked in and focus more on cap room.

[Piecake]

I think Ridnour will look better once he is playing with Rubio. I dont think he is very good at running a team and turns the ball over too much, but he can shoot the ball really really well. Stick him at SG with Rubio at the point and he can just focus on what he does best - shooting. That also gives the wolves a playmaking/dribbling sg that they were looking for.

I also have more faith in JJ running a team effectively by himself (with Wes or Ellington at SG) than Ridnour. He just looks like a better playmaker out there

I dont know if we could have a lineup of JJ and Ridnour. That just seems absolutely terrible defensively (and short)