Trade Talk (Part 14): 2023-24 Edition

[twolves31]

Assuming we are not doing any big swing in mid season and we are one month away from trading deadline. What is the one somewhat realistic trade that will help the most?

1. Tyrus Jones for KA+ seems to check most boxes

2. Is Caruso a better choice?

3. Others had mentioned: Kennard, BOGDAN
BOGDANOVIC, KEVIN HUERTER, Westbrook?

4. Maybe claim Hayward once he is waived too?

I still feel like Monte Morris might be the most likely either by trade or if they cut him and we sign him. He just started ramping back up and expected back at the end of January.
Tyus Jones, Dennis Shroeder are strong possibilities.
Smaller moves maybe one of our g leaguers for TYTy Washington which would be more of a throwing dart for future seasons.

If the Wolves don't care about the luxury tax bills next season someone like Smart is a very small possibility. I do think Caruso is possible, but I believe we would get outbid.

[twolves31]

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10103761-predicting-top-buyout-candidates-post-2024-nba-trade-deadline

Here are some players that may get bought out if they don't get traded at the deadline.

[BlacJacMac]

Just went back and reread the above. Caruso would be a big get, but NAW is not a PG and cannot play PG. I thought Caruso could but just checked and his AST/TO is only 2.5/1.4. Is Caruso capable of being an on ball PG?

Alex Caruso is a mostly wing, not a Point-Guard. That said, he is also the best non-big defensive player in the entire NBA who can guard 1-4 against most lineups. Dude is legitimately a defensive savant.

CHI had second best defense in 2nd half of last season, and he was the biggest reason why they were good defensively.

They finished 10th in the East and he still got 1st team All-Defense.

[minimus]

Just went back and reread the above. Caruso would be a big get, but NAW is not a PG and cannot play PG. I thought Caruso could but just checked and his AST/TO is only 2.5/1.4. Is Caruso capable of being an on ball PG?

I expect our offense to have a big stepback if we replace Conley with defensive minded comboguard such as NAW, Caruso, Suggs. The question is whether our defense takes a leap with McDaniels, NAW and one more elite defender.

Read on Twitter

[winforlose]

Just went back and reread the above. Caruso would be a big get, but NAW is not a PG and cannot play PG. I thought Caruso could but just checked and his AST/TO is only 2.5/1.4. Is Caruso capable of being an on ball PG?

I expect our offense to have a big stepback if we replace Conley with defensive minded comboguard such as NAW, Caruso, Suggs. The question is whether our defense takes a leap with McDaniels, NAW and one more elite defender.

Read on Twitter

Finch played JMAC after benching NAW because he is learning that this team needs a PG and Ant/NAW cannot run our offense. If we commit our resources to Caruso then we better have a second move in the pipeline, or Caruso better be able to step into that 5/1 AST/TO ratio. When Conley is off the floor our offense goes to **** and a SG is not the answer.

[NebWolvesFan]

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10103761-predicting-top-buyout-candidates-post-2024-nba-trade-deadline

Here are some players that may get bought out if they don't get traded at the deadline.

What's interesting is the two players that I think Minnesota could get on the buyout market - Monte Morris and Evan Fournier - aren't listed.

If Morris can't show he's 100 percent healthy by the trade deadline - and it will be close - he could be bought out. Obviously he has ties to Connelly

Fournier could end up anywhere on trade day, but I doubt his new team will want to keep him. He could be bought out and he has ties to Lloyd and Rudy.

[Klomp]

Just went back and reread the above. Caruso would be a big get, but NAW is not a PG and cannot play PG. I thought Caruso could but just checked and his AST/TO is only 2.5/1.4. Is Caruso capable of being an on ball PG?

I expect our offense to have a big stepback if we replace Conley with defensive minded comboguard such as NAW, Caruso, Suggs. The question is whether our defense takes a leap with McDaniels, NAW and one more elite defender.

Finch played JMAC after benching NAW because he is learning that this team needs a PG and Ant/NAW cannot run our offense. If we commit our resources to Caruso then we better have a second move in the pipeline, or Caruso better be able to step into that 5/1 AST/TO ratio. When Conley is off the floor our offense goes to **** and a SG is not the answer.

Suggs is a one of one defender. Not being able to set up the offense against him is much different than an inability against most other guards in the league.

[Klomp]

Fournier could end up anywhere on trade day, but I doubt his new team will want to keep him. He could be bought out and he has ties to Lloyd and Rudy.

I forgot about the Lloyd connection, good thinking. Looking back, he was drafted by Denver before Ujiri's last year there and was there for Connelly's first in charge.

[winforlose]

I expect our offense to have a big stepback if we replace Conley with defensive minded comboguard such as NAW, Caruso, Suggs. The question is whether our defense takes a leap with McDaniels, NAW and one more elite defender.

Finch played JMAC after benching NAW because he is learning that this team needs a PG and Ant/NAW cannot run our offense. If we commit our resources to Caruso then we better have a second move in the pipeline, or Caruso better be able to step into that 5/1 AST/TO ratio. When Conley is off the floor our offense goes to **** and a SG is not the answer.

Suggs is a one of one defender. Not being able to set up the offense against him is much different than an inability against most other guards in the league.

If this were true JMAC never would have been put back into the rotation. This isn’t new, and this isn’t an easy fix. We cannot be a bottom half offense and expect to win playoff series. We are a bottom half offense because when Mike sits down everything goes to ****.

[NebWolvesFan]

Fournier could end up anywhere on trade day, but I doubt his new team will want to keep him. He could be bought out and he has ties to Lloyd and Rudy.

I forgot about the Lloyd connection, good thinking. Looking back, he was drafted by Denver before Ujiri's last year there and was there for Connelly's first in charge.

Plus he looked okay with the French team and just because Thibs won't play you - he has his guys as we know - doesn't mean you can't play.

[shrink]

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10103761-predicting-top-buyout-candidates-post-2024-nba-trade-deadline

Here are some players that may get bought out if they don't get traded at the deadline.

What's interesting is the two players that I think Minnesota could get on the buyout market - Monte Morris and Evan Fournier - aren't listed.

If Morris can't show he's 100 percent healthy by the trade deadline - and it will be close - he could be bought out. Obviously he has ties to Connelly

Fournier could end up anywhere on trade day, but I doubt his new team will want to keep him. He could be bought out and he has ties to Lloyd and Rudy.

Good ones. I was expecting Chris Paul on the list too, if he gets traded to a lottery team.

And we’re NOT a fit for Delon Wright?

[cmoss84]

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10103761-predicting-top-buyout-candidates-post-2024-nba-trade-deadline

Here are some players that may get bought out if they don't get traded at the deadline.

2 things I noticed...we were listed as a good fit for half of these players...and I didn't know some of these guys were still in the league!

[BlacJacMac]

Just went back and reread the above. Caruso would be a big get, but NAW is not a PG and cannot play PG. I thought Caruso could but just checked and his AST/TO is only 2.5/1.4. Is Caruso capable of being an on ball PG?

I expect our offense to have a big stepback if we replace Conley with defensive minded comboguard such as NAW, Caruso, Suggs. The question is whether our defense takes a leap with McDaniels, NAW and one more elite defender.

Read on Twitter

Finch played JMAC after benching NAW because he is learning that this team needs a PG and Ant/NAW cannot run our offense. If we commit our resources to Caruso then we better have a second move in the pipeline, or Caruso better be able to step into that 5/1 AST/TO ratio. When Conley is off the floor our offense goes to **** and a SG is not the answer.

A 5/1 AST/TO ratio is a really high bar. Especially for a back-up.

[winforlose]

I expect our offense to have a big stepback if we replace Conley with defensive minded comboguard such as NAW, Caruso, Suggs. The question is whether our defense takes a leap with McDaniels, NAW and one more elite defender.

Read on Twitter

Finch played JMAC after benching NAW because he is learning that this team needs a PG and Ant/NAW cannot run our offense. If we commit our resources to Caruso then we better have a second move in the pipeline, or Caruso better be able to step into that 5/1 AST/TO ratio. When Conley is off the floor our offense goes to **** and a SG is not the answer.

A 5/1 AST/TO ratio is a really high bar. Especially for a back-up.

True. His best year was 4/1, but I think he has it in him. I also think to get the assist the person you pass to needs to make the shot. I think with us, that will happen a lot more frequently. But, I have not seen much of him in the past 2 years, so my question is has he taken a step backward in his playmaking, or is it a function of his usage, or is it his role changed, or is something else going on?

[BlacJacMac]

Finch played JMAC after benching NAW because he is learning that this team needs a PG and Ant/NAW cannot run our offense. If we commit our resources to Caruso then we better have a second move in the pipeline, or Caruso better be able to step into that 5/1 AST/TO ratio. When Conley is off the floor our offense goes to **** and a SG is not the answer.

A 5/1 AST/TO ratio is a really high bar. Especially for a back-up.

True. His best year was 4/1, but I think he has it in him. I also think to get the assist the person you pass to needs to make the shot. I think with us, that will happen a lot more frequently. But, I have not seen much of him in the past 2 years, so my question is has he taken a step backward in his playmaking, or is it a function of his usage, or is it his role changed, or is something else going on?

Just doing a quick look around the league and I'm having trouble finding many starting PGs that can hit your 5/1 ratio.

And I'm not so sure its really that good of a stat. It strikes me as one you can really fudge by playing it super safe. I'll take a few extra turnovers if they're due to aggressive play and pushing the pace. If you just walk the ball up and only make measured passes to open players, you aren't going to have many turnovers. But I'm not sure you're helping your club as much as your own stat line.

Maybe Assist% is the better indicator. Then you're looking at what percent of all your teammates FGs you assisted in while you were on the floor. But I'm not sure if that's it either.

[BlacJacMac]

As much as I don't want to trade Towns, looking at what Quickley is doing on both ends of the floor in an expanded role makes me think we might've missed on that one.

A 24 year-old star 2-way PG - plus all the extra value NY would've had to add might've really balanced out our roster, and our books, for a while.

[Klomp]

As much as I don't want to trade Towns, looking at what Quickley is doing on both ends of the floor in an expanded role makes me think we might've missed on that one.

A 24 year-old star 2-way PG - plus all the extra value NY would've had to add might've really balanced out our roster, and our books, for a while.

We did. That's the one target I wanted as a youngerish guy to develop here. Now I'm not sure there's anyone out there for us, unless a team gets desperate.

[TimberKat]

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10103761-predicting-top-buyout-candidates-post-2024-nba-trade-deadline

Here are some players that may get bought out if they don't get traded at the deadline.

2 things I noticed...we were listed as a good fit for half of these players...and I didn't know some of these guys were still in the league!

Yes, guys like Mills isn't NBA level anymore. The only one I will add to the previous list is Doug McDermott but still don't see him play ahead of NAW.

[shangrila]

I expect our offense to have a big stepback if we replace Conley with defensive minded comboguard such as NAW, Caruso, Suggs. The question is whether our defense takes a leap with McDaniels, NAW and one more elite defender.

Read on Twitter

Finch played JMAC after benching NAW because he is learning that this team needs a PG and Ant/NAW cannot run our offense. If we commit our resources to Caruso then we better have a second move in the pipeline, or Caruso better be able to step into that 5/1 AST/TO ratio. When Conley is off the floor our offense goes to **** and a SG is not the answer.

A 5/1 AST/TO ratio is a really high bar. Especially for a back-up.

It's an absurd bar.

15 players are currently hitting that mark or close enough to round up. If I exclude anyone with less than 500 possessions, it drops to 8. And ironically we've already got 2 of them in Conley and McLaughlin (though JMac would get excluded for the second round here).

[FrenchMinnyFan]

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10103761-predicting-top-buyout-candidates-post-2024-nba-trade-deadline

Here are some players that may get bought out if they don't get traded at the deadline.

What's interesting is the two players that I think Minnesota could get on the buyout market - Monte Morris and Evan Fournier - aren't listed.

If Morris can't show he's 100 percent healthy by the trade deadline - and it will be close - he could be bought out. Obviously he has ties to Connelly

Fournier could end up anywhere on trade day, but I doubt his new team will want to keep him. He could be bought out and he has ties to Lloyd and Rudy.

I will take a bet on Fournier if we got it for near nothing. He provide shooting, defense average but more important, he is 100% hungry as he need to play or he could loose his spot in team France for Olympics games 2024 in Paris. A bet but as i say, we could get a good return if lucky. And he is a good mate with Rudy.