Re: Trade Talk (Part Eleven): 2022 Offseason Edition

[Mamba4Goat]

I love KAT. But would anyone trade him for Lilliard and picks in the off-season?

Portland wouldn’t add picks. If they’re trading Dame trading for KAT would also be the wrong direction. I wouldn’t do it either way though.

[shrink]

I love KAT. But would anyone trade him for Lilliard and picks in the off-season?

Both are more valuable to their home market. KAT is loyal to MIN, Lillard is the face of the franchise.

[shrink]

I wanted to bring this over from the DLo thread. The gist of the previous posts was that if you extend DLo at $24 mil, you still have the full MLE left to add talent, while staying under the lux.

And this $24 number probably shows why MIN is interested in Conley, since that’s exactly what he makes next year. DLo could say, “Hey! I’ll be better than Conley next year! Pay me more!” He’s probably right, but is DLo better than Conley PLUS an MLE player? I’m not so sure.

The other thing complicating a UTA deal is that the Jazz would need to include another player to salary match. Most of the Jazz players that could be used have player options, except for the guys we traded them, who are ineligible to be traded. We don’t want a guy like Rudy Gay opting into his $6.5 player option, cutting into our MLE. A couple possibility it’s

DLo and Forbes for Conley and Nickeil Alexander Walker. NAW is a $5 mil expiring. The deal adds $5.5 to the Jazz payroll, so we’d have to pay for that

DLo and Forbes for Conley and Jordan Clarkson. Clarkson has a $14 mil player option that he may decline. That’s not too bad either way - keeping him is probably as good as we could do with our MLE anyway. With this deal though, Ainge would probably ask us for more assets. Would you send them Naz, knowing Clarkson could be a rental?

[coolcono]

I love KAT. But would anyone trade him for Lilliard and picks in the off-season?

Both are more valuable to their home market. KAT is loyal to MIN, Lillard is the face of the franchise.

My recent thoughts on KAT are how many games has he missed during that last three seasons? Is he going to turning in a Kevin Durant?

[jpatrick]

I don’t think KAT has ever been at 100% this season, so the Gobert/KAT front court never really had a chance to work. But, big but, I never saw it working. Neither can chase around modern combo/power forwards. It causes our defense to collapse.

I don’t know, bc I love KAT, but I’d start to consider deals for something like Daniels/Ingram/maybe a pick for KAT. Siakim and something for KAT. Maybe a three way deal. KAT still has tons of value. I just don’t see the fit here. I feel like if you want to maximize Rudy/Ant, you surround them by versatile shooters/defenders.

And I know it’s in the past, but this is where I’m really sad we moved Kessler. If we move one of KAT/Rudy, it’s be nice to have Kessler moving forward for when Ant actually hits his prime. Kessler probably not an all star, but he’s really good and a winning type player.

[Danimals]

I think the defense can survive just fine if we move Dlo for a legit defender. Dlo’s offense isn’t good enough to build around, but Kat’s is. Ant, Kat, and 3 high level defenders would be scary good.

[moss_is_1]

I could see Kat taking more of a scoring backseat, allowing Ant and Dlo to take over more of the scoring and he will show off his playmaking ability, while being an elite floor spacer. Dlo has thrived playing off the ball, and Slomo/Ant take on that lead ball handler role.

[Neeva]

Please dear god sell high on DLO. His play will only go down from here trust me. We don’t want to be stuck with that guy for another big contract!

[shrink]

https://zonecoverage.com/2023/timberwolves/what-do-naz-reids-suitors-have-to-offer-the-wolves/

Clippers, Nuggets, Nets interested, Doogie says no word from MIN.

[shangrila]

Doogie said there was no interest from the Nuggets, although I'm never sure if I believe Doogie has actual sources.

[Danimals]

I could see Kat taking more of a scoring backseat, allowing Ant and Dlo to take over more of the scoring and he will show off his playmaking ability, while being an elite floor spacer. Dlo has thrived playing off the ball, and Slomo/Ant take on that lead ball handler role.

We don’t want Kat taking a backseat to a vastly inferior offensive player. Dlo’s absolute peak on offense is barely Kat’s average. Wait until Kat gets comfortable playing off of this version of Ant. And the reason SloMo is such a revelation is because he plays like an actual point guard, meaning he facilitates everyone else getting easier and better looks.

[jpatrick]

https://zonecoverage.com/2023/timberwolves/what-do-naz-reids-suitors-have-to-offer-the-wolves/

Clippers, Nuggets, Nets interested, Doogie says no word from MIN.

With KAT’s and Rudy’s injuries this year, I don’t see how we trade Naz unless we get an even more hopeful piece or a first rounder. You don’t trade him for a second or pure bench dweller.

[TimberKat]

I wanted to bring this over from the DLo thread. The gist of the previous posts was that if you extend DLo at $24 mil, you still have the full MLE left to add talent, while staying under the lux.

And this $24 number probably shows why MIN is interested in Conley, since that’s exactly what he makes next year. DLo could say, “Hey! I’ll be better than Conley next year! Pay me more!” He’s probably right, but is DLo better than Conley PLUS an MLE player? I’m not so sure.

The other thing complicating a UTA deal is that the Jazz would need to include another player to salary match. Most of the Jazz players that could be used have player options, except for the guys we traded them, who are ineligible to be traded. We don’t want a guy like Rudy Gay opting into his $6.5 player option, cutting into our MLE. A couple possibility it’s

DLo and Forbes for Conley and Nickeil Alexander Walker. NAW is a $5 mil expiring. The deal adds $5.5 to the Jazz payroll, so we’d have to pay for that

DLo and Forbes for Conley and Jordan Clarkson. Clarkson has a $14 mil player option that he may decline. That’s not too bad either way - keeping him is probably as good as we could do with our MLE anyway. With this deal though, Ainge would probably ask us for more assets. Would you send them Naz, knowing Clarkson could be a rental?

DLo + Forbes + future 2nd for Conley and Jordan is the best from Wolves. Keeping Ried for another trade or this year's run.

[moss_is_1]

I could see Kat taking more of a scoring backseat, allowing Ant and Dlo to take over more of the scoring and he will show off his playmaking ability, while being an elite floor spacer. Dlo has thrived playing off the ball, and Slomo/Ant take on that lead ball handler role.

We don’t want Kat taking a backseat to a vastly inferior offensive player. Dlo’s absolute peak on offense is barely Kat’s average. Wait until Kat gets comfortable playing off of this version of Ant. And the reason SloMo is such a revelation is because he plays like an actual point guard, meaning he facilitates everyone else getting easier and better looks.

I was thinking of Dlo in more of his 6th man type role he's in now, not necessarily making him the "2nd option" so to speak. Kat is obviously way too talented to be taking backseat to him, but he seemed to be a much more willing facilitator(at least to Rudy) to start the season.

[Danimals]

I’m cool with Dlo as 6th man for a contract starting at $15-$20 million. Then we still need another legit PG to control tempo, point of attack defense, and make life easier for Ant and Kat on offense.

[cmoss84]

Does a trade for Rubio make sense? He's not getting many minutes with Cle...what would it cost?

[younggunsmn]

I have been the biggest critic on Russell, but I have to hand it to him for the dramatic improvement in his shooting/shot selection over the past month.
He has almost returned to the point of being the player we thought we were getting when we traded for him. When he is flirting with 50/40/90, limiting the dumb turnovers, and at least giving effort on D and the boards, which has been the case the past 3 weeks, he is a net positive on the court.
At some point around that players only meeting I think someone got through to him that this was Ant's team and not his, and if he didn't learn to play with Ant he had no future here.
A light has clearly gone on. I see a lot of good work with Finch on the offensive end making better decisions, especially with Rudy on the pick and roll using the lob threat to be able to finish better, and trying to take his 3's at hot spots for him and in the rythym of the offense (left and right slot and top of the key).

All that said, I'm at the point that unless we get something very nice coming back we should let it play out for the rest of the season and take our chances in the summer. I'm not a huge fan of most of the options floated here.
Phoenix intrigues me with Chris Paul or Cam Payne, who plays with the pace that could work well here, but I question whether he's a starting level player. Conley would be ok, but I NEVER want Connelly trading with Utah again.
Unless its a starting level player, multiple first round picks (or one lottery pick), or a very good young player on a rookie deal coming back, I pass on a deal at the trade deadline and take our chances in the summer.
I still don't like handing DLO 25+ million for muttiple years, but he has increased his trade value to the point where a Sign/Trade might be a real option in the summer and he is not settling for MLE offers.
Him playing his way back to the player we thought we were getting at the time of the trade and staying long term is probably best possible outcome for the franchise.

There are a couple black swans on the horizon for DLo though once KAT returns.
The first is that we have been playing passable defense only when Kyle Anderson is on the court at the 4, capable of defending 5 positions. Most of those minutes will be going to KAT.
The ability to hide D-LO on a weak 4 takes a hit when KAT and Rudy share the floor.
The second is that KAT is going to need touches on offense and the current guard-heavy offense will need to change.
Also, all that glue that Slo-Mo is currently providing is either going to have to be on the bench in crunch time, or force one of Rudy/Kat/DLo/Jaden to the bench.

[Neeva]

We all know who will belong on the bench.

[younggunsmn]

Naz Reid looks like the most likely player to be traded at the deadline.
He looks like an ascending player, putting up 20/10/2 BLK per 36 right now.
It has been great to see him develop here.

His D and defensive rebounding haven't been great though, and with KAT coming back and Garza/Knight providing quality depth and being cheaper going forward, I can see a trade.

If we could get a guard to replace Nowell in the rotation back, that would be optimal for me.
Also a late 1st or multiple high 2nds would be great to refill the cupboard a bit after Connelly went on his drunk dealing pick bender last summer, although that might be too much with him being a UFA in the summer.

I would really like to get Alec Burks, I think he'd be perfect here taking Nowell's spot in the rotation, but then you send out either Prince+Nowell/reid or he's a part of a D-Lo trade.

If Terrence Mann can be traded at his current salary without any BYC/Poison Pill issues due to his higher '24 salary, a straight up Naz/Mann swap could have some legs. Maybe they throw in a 2nd round pick.
Then you are also helping a rival in the playoff chase out too.

[younggunsmn]

3 Teamer:

MN IN: TJ McConnell, James Johnson
MN OUT: Prince, Naz Reid,

BRK IN: Prince, Naz Reid
BRK OUT: Patty Mills, Cam Thomas

IND IN: Patty Mills, Cam Thomas,
IND IN: McConnell, James Johnson

For MIN: balances roster, add the Kyle Anderson of PG's to steady the young players, signed cheap for 2 years after this one.
Can start next year if D-Lo walks in free agency.
For BRK: Add shooting and center depth, balances roster
For IND: Swap backup PGs and take a chance on a former 1st rounder.

Trade is salary neutral for us, BRK adds 1.3 mil in salary, Ind loses 1.3 mil in salary.