Trade Talk (Part 14): 2023-24 Edition

[BlacJacMac]

Interesting targets...

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/5-trade-options-for-the-minnesota-timberwolves-to-lock-the-no-1-seed-in-the-west/ar-AA1mDhft?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=SCOOBE&cvid=c28d9d47b72c47ef8cabe11c0f95c940&ei=12

I don't think either team does Trade #1.

Brooklyn hangs up the phone on #2.

I hang up the phone on #s 3, 4 and 5. I want nothing to do with Kuzma and I wouldn't take Brooks for free.

[Guest84]

Interesting targets...

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/5-trade-options-for-the-minnesota-timberwolves-to-lock-the-no-1-seed-in-the-west/ar-AA1mDhft?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=SCOOBE&cvid=c28d9d47b72c47ef8cabe11c0f95c940&ei=12

I always kind of hate it when national sources hire some rando to talk about what the Wolves front office should do. One of the main reasons I have posted here for so long is that RealGM posters are almost always more informed, and even when I disagree with their conclusions, they come from a basis in fact and intimate knowledge of the team. I don’t think national correspondents ever take the time to really understand the Wolves.

Three of these trades involve Mike Conley, with seemingly no knowledge of why he is so important here, or why the team instantly became a winner when he was swapped for DLo. Yes, Mike has very good stats, knows how to feed Gobert, and makes clutch shots, but his impact goes far beyond that. He is the quiet team leader, #1 in the insiders leadership poll. He provides emotional stability that a team with guys like Ant and KAT desperately need. He is also now Ant’s mentor as he learns to become a better passer/play-maker, which is a necessary step for him to become a superstar. Hopefully Mike is also showing him how to be a professional off the court as well. The three-time NBA’s Sportsmanship Award winner, the man who has never committed a technical foul - Ant needs that side to balance his passion.

One of the concepts you’ve heard me stress many times in trade creation is “more valuable to us than you.” Trades work when the assets involve help the other teams get closer to their goal, than they help their current team meet theirs. This writer says that the other teams might want Conley as an expiring contract. He is worth much more than an expiring contract to us.

Agreed. The only proposal that kind of caught my eye was the Brooklyn one. I def wouldn't want to include Conley right now since he appears to be a calming influence on the team that absolutely needs it.

Murray is interesting as I don't think he was a good fit for Atl even when they first made the trade. However, I'd like to add a player like him to Mike but not instead of. The other trades, no thank you.

[minimus]

One question. Let me know if my logic is off:

1) MIN is playing well when Conley is both highly efficient 3pt shooter, elite passer WHILE being a low usage player

2) we cant replace him with high volume, high usage offensive minded player because we don't have possessions for such player, we don't have assets and salary cap to acquire and keep such player (offensive minded players cost more). For instance, Clarkson. Unless we trade Towns...

3) we can't replace with Conley with 3&D players like Suggs, Cason Wallace or Caruso, because it will make our 20th offense even worse

4) we can't just add a movement shooter such as Huerter because we have invested in Edwards and McDaniels means usually a movement shooter plays SG/SF position

5) the only viable way to replace Conley is to get a fringe starter level PG such as Tyus Jones or Monte Morris and hope that new owners will keep current roster

Am I correct?

[minimus]

OKC GIVES: Cason Wallace, Dort, Bertans, Micic, three FRPs, three SRPs
OKC GETS: Towns, Milton, Moore

Why for OKC: believe in Towns+Chet duo

UTA GIVES: Markannen
UTA GETS: Bertans, FRP, three SRPs

Why for UTA: get picks to accelerate rebuild

MIN GIVES: Towns, Milton, Moore
MIN GETS: Markannen, Cason Wallace, Dort, Micic, two FRPs

Why for MIN: balance roster

Gobert/Reid/Garza
Markannen/Anderson/Miller
McDaniels/Dort/TBJ
Edwards/NAW/Micic
Conley/Wallace/McLaughlin

[BlacJacMac]

OKC GIVES: Cason Wallace, Dort, Bertans, Micic, three FRPs, three SRPs
OKC GETS: Towns, Milton, Moore

Why for OKC: believe in Towns+Chet duo

UTA GIVES: Markannen
UTA GETS: Bertans, FRP, three SRPs

Why for UTA: get picks to accelerate rebuild

MIN GIVES: Towns, Milton, Moore
MIN GETS: Markannen, Cason Wallace, Dort, Micic, two FRPs

Why for MIN: balance roster

Gobert/Reid/Garza
Markannen/Anderson/Miller
McDaniels/Dort/TBJ
Edwards/NAW/Micic
Conley/Wallace/McLaughlin

We're getting too many picks and Utah isn't getting enough. That's a horrible return for Markannen.

We're getting the clear 2nd, 3rd and 4th best players - and Micic is at least more interesting than Bertans. Plus two 1st round picks?

While Utah gets just a single 1st round pick and a handful of 2nds for Markannen? There is no way they don't get better offers than that.

[gandlogo]

From another thread:

Jalen Suggs? 13PPG, 46%FG, 39%3PT, only 2.5APG, but he plays a really aggressive, physical defense (1.5SPG) If we get Suggs we can absolutely lock perimeter.


Towns, Moore for Suggs, Carter Jr., Isaac and two FRPs

Gobert/Carter + Garza
Isaac/Reid/Anderson + Miller
McDaniels/TBJ/Minott
Edwards/NAW/Milton
Conley/Suggs/McLaughlin

This group will be a tough to score against...

If Isaac can stay healthy (at least this and next season) they will have a chance to be really special.

I don't know if the money works - nor have I looked. But I like Carter next to Towns and Naz way better than next to Gobert. His ability to guard 4s and 5s, plus Suggs on the perimeter keeps defense at a high level and improves the offense.

Gobert, Anderson, Moore for Suggs, Carter Jr., Isaac, Fultz, and two FRPs

Send Fultz and the picks to Washington for Tyus and Deni Avdija.

[BlacJacMac]

From another thread:

Jalen Suggs? 13PPG, 46%FG, 39%3PT, only 2.5APG, but he plays a really aggressive, physical defense (1.5SPG) If we get Suggs we can absolutely lock perimeter.


Towns, Moore for Suggs, Carter Jr., Isaac and two FRPs

Gobert/Carter + Garza
Isaac/Reid/Anderson + Miller
McDaniels/TBJ/Minott
Edwards/NAW/Milton
Conley/Suggs/McLaughlin

This group will be a tough to score against...

If Isaac can stay healthy (at least this and next season) they will have a chance to be really special.

I don't know if the money works - nor have I looked. But I like Carter next to Towns and Naz way better than next to Gobert. His ability to guard 4s and 5s, plus Suggs on the perimeter keeps defense at a high level and improves the offense.

Gobert, Anderson, Moore for Suggs, Carter Jr., Isaac, Fultz, and two FRPs

Send Fultz and the picks to Washington for Tyus and Deni Avdija.

That's super interesting for us, but why does a team that is already #4 in defense give up all that for Gobert?

[gandlogo]

From another thread:

Jalen Suggs? 13PPG, 46%FG, 39%3PT, only 2.5APG, but he plays a really aggressive, physical defense (1.5SPG) If we get Suggs we can absolutely lock perimeter.


Towns, Moore for Suggs, Carter Jr., Isaac and two FRPs

Gobert/Carter + Garza
Isaac/Reid/Anderson + Miller
McDaniels/TBJ/Minott
Edwards/NAW/Milton
Conley/Suggs/McLaughlin

This group will be a tough to score against...

If Isaac can stay healthy (at least this and next season) they will have a chance to be really special.

I don't know if the money works - nor have I looked. But I like Carter next to Towns and Naz way better than next to Gobert. His ability to guard 4s and 5s, plus Suggs on the perimeter keeps defense at a high level and improves the offense.

Gobert, Anderson, Moore for Suggs, Carter Jr., Isaac, Fultz, and two FRPs

Send Fultz and the picks to Washington for Tyus and Deni Avdija.

That's super interesting for us, but why does a team that is already #4 in defense give up all that for Gobert?

I'm not sure they would. But Gobert is a sizable upgrade over Bitadze in the starting lineup. Opens up some minutes for Black, who likely could also learn from SloMo. Moore is garbage, so if they value Shake or Minott more throw them in. Or even a couple seconds.

[BlacJacMac]

I don't know if the money works - nor have I looked. But I like Carter next to Towns and Naz way better than next to Gobert. His ability to guard 4s and 5s, plus Suggs on the perimeter keeps defense at a high level and improves the offense.

Gobert, Anderson, Moore for Suggs, Carter Jr., Isaac, Fultz, and two FRPs

Send Fultz and the picks to Washington for Tyus and Deni Avdija.

That's super interesting for us, but why does a team that is already #4 in defense give up all that for Gobert?

I'm not sure they would. But Gobert is a sizable upgrade over Bitadze in the starting lineup. Opens up some minutes for Black, who likely could also learn from SloMo. Moore is garbage, so if they value Shake or Minott more throw them in. Or even a couple seconds.

Isn't Bitadze the starter only because Carter is injured?

Which would be the same problem with us. Carter is very talented, but can't stay on the floor. In 7 seasons, he's only played 50 games 3 times and never missed fewer than 20.

So we'd likely play most games with KAT and Naz starting and the ghost of Jonathan Isaac backing them up (when he's not hurt). We'd have to be relying on Miller and/or Garza to play significant minutes this year.

[gandlogo]

That's super interesting for us, but why does a team that is already #4 in defense give up all that for Gobert?

I'm not sure they would. But Gobert is a sizable upgrade over Bitadze in the starting lineup. Opens up some minutes for Black, who likely could also learn from SloMo. Moore is garbage, so if they value Shake or Minott more throw them in. Or even a couple seconds.

Isn't Bitadze the starter only because Carter is injured?

Which would be the same problem with us. Carter is very talented, but can't stay on the floor. In 7 seasons, he's only played 50 games 3 times and never missed fewer than 20.

So we'd likely play most games with KAT and Naz starting and the ghost of Jonathan Isaac backing them up (when he's not hurt). We'd have to be relying on Miller and/or Garza to play significant minutes this year.

I think he replaced Cater in the lineup during the injury, but has stayed there. Deni can grab minutes at the 4 against many teams too. Plus, I'm guessing there is a center sitting out in free agency somewhere. There always seem to be a McGee type available to plug in. And I believe Deni's contract reduces over time when KAT's and Ant's are going up.

[Klomp]

Jaden isn't anywhere near ready to be one of our key offensive players.

This is the biggest key to everything surrounding the trade discussions for the franchise moving forward...where do we as a franchise see Jaden McDaniels now and going forward?

It's a different tier, but I find some similarities to the 2019-20 deadline. We cleared room in the center rotation for Naz Reid by trading away Gorgui Dieng. (this was helped further by the injury to Towns two games later) Naz's role and production took a significant step forward because a bigger role was able to be made for him.

[Neeva]

Wolves aren’t trading Rudy, he gave the wolves an identity. If anything Kat is the one being traded.Kat is an amazing regular season player but he is NOT worth his upcoming contract in the playoffs and if wolves can get 2-3 key pieces and picks along with cap flexibility moving forward when Ant approaches his prime for Kat they need to jump on it.
IMO Rudy will resign with the wolves on a more team friendly deal next and he will still be effective defensively/rebounding wise at least in his mid 30’s.

[Klomp]

I just keep looking around for a team that could be the third cog in a Towns to Knicks trade....who wants Julius Randle?

[cmoss84]

KAT + ? = Bridges and Cam Johnson

[Neeva]

This three teamer works IMO
Markkanen, Murray and Dunn to Wolves
Towns and Anderson to Hawks
Jalen Johnson,Minott, filler and picks to jazz.

[Note30]

KAT + ? = Bridges and Cam Johnson

Would have to be McDaniels, then BKN needs to add value.

[shrink]

Has there been anything mentioned from a local source that the Wolves are contemplating a Towns trade, or that the owners are trying to cut salary next year? I haven’t heard anything, and I want to be sure I didn’t miss some bit of news.

[Klomp]

Has there been anything mentioned from a local source that the Wolves are contemplating a Towns trade, or that the owners are trying to cut salary next year? I haven’t heard anything, and I want to be sure I didn’t miss some bit of news.

Not that I know of. I think it's just speculation and fears. But doesn't rule it out as a possibility.

[Klomp]

What about Chicago, using Coby White as a centerpiece?

[winforlose]

This three teamer works IMO
Markkanen, Murray and Dunn to Wolves
Towns and Anderson to Hawks
Jalen Johnson,Minott, filler and picks to jazz.

Hawks came out and said Johnson is off limits.