Woj/Shams/Jon: The Russell deal is done

[Neeva]

If he improved his value why did we get nothing for him in trade?

Because we have an idiot for a GM

I'm not sure of that, but it could be the case. He drafted well this year taking Kessler who might be the best player of this years class.

oh please Kessler wasn’t even the best rookie on the floor last night.

[KGdaBom]

Because we have an idiot for a GM

I'm not sure of that, but it could be the case. He drafted well this year taking Kessler who might be the best player of this years class.

oh please Kessler wasn’t even the best rookie on the floor last night.

Who was the best rookie? Minott?
Kessler minute for minute has been the best rookie in the NBA this year. Banchero had a hot start and scores a lot but has faded badly and is terribly inefficient. What rookie has been better than Kessler? Answer nobody.

[Note30]

i don’t understand the negativity around this deal.

The negativity is that we went and helped the Lakers and Jazz.

And by helping the Lakers we also hurt our chances which is exactly what the Jazz wanted but we still helped them out anyway. Suffice it to say we made the trade in the summer look even better for the Jazz. So not only did we screw up then we are attempting to patch it up by helping another team the Lakers at that come back from the dead.

[TimberKat]

i don’t understand the negativity around this deal.

The negativity is that we went and helped the Lakers and Jazz.

And by helping the Lakers we also hurt our chances which is exactly what the Jazz wanted but we still helped them out anyway. Suffice it to say we made the trade in the summer look even better for the Jazz. So not only did we screw up then we are attempting to patch it up by helping another team the Lakers at that come back from the dead.

Couldn't we just consider it a win-win? Some in Lakers land feel - Conley, Beasley, Vanderbilt is better for them. DLo maybe a better fit in my opinion. For Wolves, this move will free up JMac to get more rebounds, improve TO ratio, lob pass to Gobert, better D, hold the salary slot , with less scoring threat. I still see an avg of 2 pts differential improvement. Sure we could paid less if done the deal as part of Gobert trade, the extra pick or two is to keep Towns happy for we try to make it work with DLo. We all seen enough of a Towns/DLo lead team and knows that wasn't going to work. It's time for the Ant/Towns/Gobert lead team.

[shrink]

I'm not sure of that, but it could be the case. He drafted well this year taking Kessler who might be the best player of this years class.

oh please Kessler wasn’t even the best rookie on the floor last night.

Who was the best rookie? Minott?
Kessler minute for minute has been the best rookie in the NBA this year. Banchero had a hot start and scores a lot but has faded badly and is terribly inefficient. What rookie has been better than Kessler? Answer nobody.

Freakin’ two-way Luka Garza cooked him!

[Domejandro]

i don’t understand the negativity around this deal.

The negativity is that we went and helped the Lakers and Jazz.

And by helping the Lakers we also hurt our chances which is exactly what the Jazz wanted but we still helped them out anyway. Suffice it to say we made the trade in the summer look even better for the Jazz. So not only did we screw up then we are attempting to patch it up by helping another team the Lakers at that come back from the dead.

The trade between the Los Angeles Lakers and Utah Jazz was happening regardless of Minnesota's involvement.

[KGdaBom]

oh please Kessler wasn’t even the best rookie on the floor last night.

Who was the best rookie? Minott?
Kessler minute for minute has been the best rookie in the NBA this year. Banchero had a hot start and scores a lot but has faded badly and is terribly inefficient. What rookie has been better than Kessler? Answer nobody.

Freakin’ two-way Luka Garza cooked him!

One game. I'm forgetting his name now, but during the Warrior's single season win record our Wolves had one player who pretty much beat the Warriors by himself. Was it Shabazz Muhammad?

[shrink]

Who was the best rookie? Minott?
Kessler minute for minute has been the best rookie in the NBA this year. Banchero had a hot start and scores a lot but has faded badly and is terribly inefficient. What rookie has been better than Kessler? Answer nobody.

Freakin’ two-way Luka Garza cooked him!

One game. I'm forgetting his name now, but during the Warrior's single season win record our Wolves had one player who pretty much beat the Warriors by himself. Was it Shabazz Muhammad?

I don’t disagree, but the post didn’t say “who was the best rookie over the season.” It said “best rookie on the floor last night.”

[Ethomasp31]

oh please Kessler wasn’t even the best rookie on the floor last night.

Who was the best rookie? Minott?
Kessler minute for minute has been the best rookie in the NBA this year. Banchero had a hot start and scores a lot but has faded badly and is terribly inefficient. What rookie has been better than Kessler? Answer nobody.

Freakin’ two-way Luka Garza cooked him!

Kessler had half of his rebounds and points in the last 4 minutes of the game. Almost got to a backdoor double-double.

[KGdaBom]

Freakin’ two-way Luka Garza cooked him!

One game. I'm forgetting his name now, but during the Warrior's single season win record our Wolves had one player who pretty much beat the Warriors by himself. Was it Shabazz Muhammad?

I don’t disagree, but the post didn’t say “who was the best rookie over the season.” It said “best rookie on the floor last night.”

That's why I said one game. I didn't watch last night so I didn't know who was the best rookie on the floor.

[shrink]

Dane Moore contacted his sources in three other [front offices], and they all told him that this was a big win for MIN. But I’m sharing it because the point he made was fascinating.

He said that DLo is a guy that players like way more than front offices.

And Rudy Gobert is the opposite. Hmmmm?

[cmoss84]

I like the trade. I kind of look at it as:

1) we HAD to trade Dlo, and this was about the max we were going to get
2) I would rather have our roster and roster flexibility than UT and LA

I don't see Utah being a contender any time soon. They can keep collecting 1st round picks all they want...but there is no guarantee that route is going to lead to success. Lauri and Kessler are solid. But who else? As far as the Lakers go, I see them falling off a cliff soon. They got 2 decent role players in the trade...and traded away 1 decent role player. Does this really make them that much better? Beasily is streaky and is not having that great of year. Vando is solid defender, but cant shoot. How many more wins does this buy them this year? Next year even if they get Irving?

I am happy with where we are. Was it perfect how we got here? Of course not...but things rarely go PERFECTLY in any sport. I love our core, roster flexibility, and young guys. I see us going to the playoffs for the next 8 years. I'm fine with that.

*Quick add-on...the Suns gave up a ****ton to get Durant. They screwed themselves.

[Klomp]

The more I look at this trade, the more I see it through a longterm lens.

Russell is better today. However, several factors work against him.
1. Contract status: This one's obvious.
2. Alpha mentality: Yes. This is Ant's team. If someone tries to argue otherwise (ie. "I'm an alpha too" statement), he needs to go.
3. Leadership: The technicals are becoming a problem. While not all on Russell, Conley should help slow them down.
4. Redistribute shots: With Towns returning, Russell's shots not as critical. Open up even bigger roles for Edwards and McDaniels.
5. Fewer turnovers: Conley's A/TO rate for career is 2.9:1. Russell's is 2.0:1. A significant jump.
6. Alexander-Walker is a flier, entering an offseason where it looks like Nowell will move on. Free look at potential replacement.

All of these signify a shift towards Edwards as the leader of the franchise.

[Klomp]

Something else I've thought about is that these two vets who Connelly traded for (Gobert and now Conley) built their careers in arguably the two quintessential small market franchise runs of the last two decades, with Conley in Memphis and Gobert in Utah. These are the franchises Minnesota needs to emulate in terms of building sustainability as a franchise for Anthony Edwards. These are front offices that Tim Connelly has poached other executives from as well.

[shrink]

Something else I've thought about is that these two vets who Connelly traded for (Gobert and now Conley) built their careers in arguably the two quintessential small market franchise runs of the last two decades, with Conley in Memphis and Gobert in Utah. These are the franchises Minnesota needs to emulate in terms of building sustainability as a franchise for Anthony Edwards. These are front offices that Tim Connelly has poached other executives from as well.

So I hear you saying that we’re getting SGA, right?

[Ethomasp31]

The more I look at this trade, the more I see it through a longterm lens.

Russell is better today. However, several factors work against him.
1. Contract status: This one's obvious.
2. Alpha mentality: Yes. This is Ant's team. If someone tries to argue otherwise (ie. "I'm an alpha too" statement), he needs to go.
3. Leadership: The technicals are becoming a problem. While not all on Russell, Conley should help slow them down.
4. Redistribute shots: With Towns returning, Russell's shots not as critical. Open up even bigger roles for Edwards and McDaniels.
5. Fewer turnovers: Conley's A/TO rate for career is 2.9:1. Russell's is 2.0:1. A significant jump.
6. Alexander-Walker is a flier, entering an offseason where it looks like Nowell will move on. Free look at potential replacement.

All of these signify a shift towards Edwards as the leader of the franchise.

No he is not better today. He is not a winning player. In his first seven seasons he has made it to the playoffs twice and never won a series. The only thing he has in his favor over Conley is that he is younger. For all those talking about shooting...Conley almost won the three point shooting contest less than two years ago. He lost to Steph in the finals.

[wolves_89]

I saw a couple of references to the Wolves talking to DLO about an extension with the two sides being far apart (thus precipitating the trade). It's going to be interesting to watch this offseason to see what DLO's next contract looks like. My guess is DLO gets less per year than whatever extension the Wolves were offering (but maybe more years).

[Ethomasp31]

Doogie mentioned something today that was kind of interesting when they were talking Beverly. He said what if a different guard is more on their radar? Then some other mentioned Will Barton...but he hasn't been very good this year...

[Klomp]

Doogie mentioned something today that was kind of interesting when they were talking Beverly. He said what if a different guard is more on their radar? Then some other mentioned Will Barton...but he hasn't been very good this year...

Tim and Will are close from Denver days...both Baltimore guys. Would not completely shock me.

[shrink]

Doogie mentioned something today that was kind of interesting when they were talking Beverly. He said what if a different guard is more on their radar? Then some other mentioned Will Barton...but he hasn't been very good this year...

Tim and Will are close from Denver days...both Baltimore guys. Would not completely shock me.

Could be, but it’s a tough sell to the owner

“You know that guy at the end of our bench that I convinced you to pay, but I don’t use too much? Well, I’d like you to pay him to go away and to do nothing for the team, and then pay for this new guy too, because I think he is going to be much better.”

That might work for a player of Beverley’s level, but probably not Wil Barton. Connelly would probably need to wait until the summer to sign him as a free agent.