Trade Talk (Part 14): 2023-24 Edition

[TimberKat]

For the people that think Towns is going to be traded, can you picture ARod and Lore at the press conference?

“Yeah, we’re #1 in the West right now, but we thought it was time to shake things up and get younger. We’d like to thank Towns for one of his best seasons ever, his devotion to Minnesota, and his willingness to sacrifice for the team, but we decided we should trade him away. We’re going to trade the two-time All NBA, multi-time All Star for a couple younger players. Casual fans might not know these guys because they don’t have national honors, but we think they can fill solid rolls here in the future, if they stay when their contracts run out. We also got some future picks - jerseys with the name saying “future ATL 1st” can be purchased in our online store. And of course, we know you fans are very concerned about our luxury tax payments, so you’ll be happy to know we’re starting off by saving a lot of future money. Now, any questions?”

'What the F* ?' - 'Why you guys buy the team if you don't have money to run it?'

ARod and Lore should be very happy right now. So is Taylor. Because I don't think any of them expect Twolves in 1st place. I think they will spend over the tax line for a winner (#1 or #2 seed). Going over the tax line is worse than 2nd apron because not only the tax itself, you also don't get any of the tax money too.

[KGdaBom]

Feels like a sell low on Towns and a step backwards on the season.

I wonder what you opinion will be after trade deadline. IMO 2nd apron and new season approaching might change whole NBA landscape.

I am down with trading Karl, just not for such a low return. My suggestion was some kind of deal with the Hawks for Jalen Johnson, and Murray with Kyle and Okongwu also moving. Or in the alternative find a team willing to give us 5 firsts and moveable money and redirect it for Murray and Markkanen. Something like is selling high, your suggestion is selling low.

Does anyone really doubt Karl is as valuable or more valuable than Donovan Mitchell at this point?

I would guess that Mitchell has higher trade value than KAT.

[winforlose]

I wonder what you opinion will be after trade deadline. IMO 2nd apron and new season approaching might change whole NBA landscape.

I am down with trading Karl, just not for such a low return. My suggestion was some kind of deal with the Hawks for Jalen Johnson, and Murray with Kyle and Okongwu also moving. Or in the alternative find a team willing to give us 5 firsts and moveable money and redirect it for Murray and Markkanen. Something like is selling high, your suggestion is selling low.

Does anyone really doubt Karl is as valuable or more valuable than Donovan Mitchell at this point?

I would guess that Mitchell has higher trade value than KAT.

Elaborate please?

[KGdaBom]

IMO you underestimate how contract situation can impact player value. Jalen Johnson combination of cheap contract, improvement and potential ceiling is making him untouchable. Five first doesn't have much value for us , because we have entered win now mode after Gobert trade. You can get five firsts right away from OKC, just imagine how they will improve if they replace non shooting Giddey with Towns! But. I honestly believe that Suggs is more valuable for us than let say three late FRPs: he fits our defensive minded identity, he is an improving shooter, and he is a local guy.

5 firsts gets you Murray and more. Maybe even Markkanen. If not Markkanen then what about Murray, Caruso, and Vuc plus keep a first. (2 for Murray, 2 for Caruso and Vuc.)

If you can get Murray and Markkanen, you have to do it.

I don't like Vuc with Rudy.

I see Murray and Markkanen being bandied about a lot. If I can get both for KAT sorry KAT, but I'm packing your bags. However, I think no way in hell we get them.

[cmoss84]

Because he's a super dirty player and a crappy human being that I don't want in our locker room.

He is not that different from Pat and Pat fit in fine. Brooks might be low class but he isn’t Giddey or Bridges level bad and those guys still have jobs. Griz fans didn’t break down the FO doors trying to move him away. Brooks would make our second unit defense incredible and solve our scoring issues. He would retain good value for a future move and probably be a key factor in our first championship.

He's a dirty player on the floor. He tries to hurt opponents. He also has a history of blaming teammates.

The Memphis Grizzlies have informed pending free agent Dillon Brooks that he will not be brought back under any circumstances, league sources say.

Somethings are more important than talent.

Like a trade for Miles Bridges would have me seriously considering following the Wolves.

Does this mean they are getting rid of Ja also? I don't disagree with most of this, but teams are pretty picky and choosy with their bad boys.

[KGdaBom]

Would Detroit be willing to build a core around Cade, KAT, and Duren?

KAT and WMJ ($38M and change) for Ivey, Bojan, and Burks ($38M and change)?
I'm sure picks can be involved too---just not sure which ones...

Yuck

[KGdaBom]

I am down with trading Karl, just not for such a low return. My suggestion was some kind of deal with the Hawks for Jalen Johnson, and Murray with Kyle and Okongwu also moving. Or in the alternative find a team willing to give us 5 firsts and moveable money and redirect it for Murray and Markkanen. Something like is selling high, your suggestion is selling low.

Does anyone really doubt Karl is as valuable or more valuable than Donovan Mitchell at this point?

I would guess that Mitchell has higher trade value than KAT.

Elaborate please?

What is there to elaborate. I think Mitchell would bring more assets in trade than KAT.

[BlacJacMac]

He is not that different from Pat and Pat fit in fine. Brooks might be low class but he isn’t Giddey or Bridges level bad and those guys still have jobs. Griz fans didn’t break down the FO doors trying to move him away. Brooks would make our second unit defense incredible and solve our scoring issues. He would retain good value for a future move and probably be a key factor in our first championship.

He's a dirty player on the floor. He tries to hurt opponents. He also has a history of blaming teammates.

The Memphis Grizzlies have informed pending free agent Dillon Brooks that he will not be brought back under any circumstances, league sources say.

Somethings are more important than talent.

Like a trade for Miles Bridges would have me seriously considering following the Wolves.

Does this mean they are getting rid of Ja also? I don't disagree with most of this, but teams are pretty picky and choosy with their bad boys.

Ja is an idiot off the floor who will keep getting suspended if he continues his fake tough guy act.

Brooks disrespects the game on the court. He's a bad teammate and danger to opponents.

[Neeva]

Mitchell has regressed in the playoffs the last few seasons and he has already wormed his way out of two teams before his prime age (28)? ( if he gets traded again) where will he be happy?

[Klomp]

Am I the only one who thinks a Dejounte Murray for Zach LaVine trade makes sense?

[Neeva]

The Trae/Lavine backcourt defense might be comical though?

[KGdaBom]

I'm not so sure that trading KAT away is a good idea.

[Loaf_of_bread]

For the people that think Towns is going to be traded, can you picture ARod and Lore at the press conference?

“Yeah, we’re #1 in the West right now, but we thought it was time to shake things up and get younger. We’d like to thank Karl for one of his best seasons ever, his devotion to Minnesota, and his willingness to sacrifice for the team, but we decided we should trade him away. We’re going to trade the two-time All NBA, multi-time All Star for a couple younger players. Casual fans might not know these guys because they don’t have national honors, but we think they can fill solid rolls here in the future, and we hope they stay when their contracts run out. We also got some future picks - jerseys with the name saying “future ATL 1st” can be purchased in our online store. And of course, we know you fans are very concerned about our luxury tax payments, so you’ll be happy to know we’re starting off by saving a lot of future money. Now, any questions?”

if Connelly wants to make a move, he needs approval from the owners.. but if owners were to turn down what the gm feels is in the best interest in the organization... then said gm is looking for another job.

Lore/rodriguez don't even need to present their thoughts. Decisions made aren't up to them. You think they would undermine a decision by the gm? Why have a gm if they were to explain a decision made?

Might as well get rid of Connelly and appoint arod.

[winforlose]

I'm not so sure that trading KAT away is a good idea.

Neither am I. But I am also looking past this year and getting a bit scared. Ant is 3 to 4 years away from his prime and his BBIQ and handle might be further away than that. NAW is just not a PG, and JMAC is not contender worthy in the playoffs. He can hang in the regular season for short spurts, but he doesn’t shoot or defend well enough for 34 minutes or more per night. I don’t see a lot of avenues for adding PG talent or bench depth without moving him. His game is next level right now and the deadline is literally a week from tomorrow. Send him to a team like the rockets and get a mega return, or send him east and get enough to piece together what we need to sustain this momentum for the next 5 years.

P.S I have nothing but love for Karl’s loyalty to Minnesota and I believe he is next level talented. I just think that the moves we made to get here have left us in a position where we are better off doing something than nothing, and nothing else moves the needle like moving KAT. But only for a truly excellent return.

[shangrila]

For the people that think Towns is going to be traded, can you picture ARod and Lore at the press conference?

“Yeah, we’re #1 in the West right now, but we thought it was time to shake things up and get younger. We’d like to thank Karl for one of his best seasons ever, his devotion to Minnesota, and his willingness to sacrifice for the team, but we decided we should trade him away. We’re going to trade the two-time All NBA, multi-time All Star for a couple younger players. Casual fans might not know these guys because they don’t have national honors, but we think they can fill solid rolls here in the future, and we hope they stay when their contracts run out. We also got some future picks - jerseys with the name saying “future ATL 1st” can be purchased in our online store. And of course, we know you fans are very concerned about our luxury tax payments, so you’ll be happy to know we’re starting off by saving a lot of future money. Now, any questions?”

There's so much wrong here I'm not even going to bother.

Thanks for reminding me why I shouldn't engage with you regarding KAT trades though.

[shrink]

For the people that think Towns is going to be traded, can you picture ARod and Lore at the press conference?

“Yeah, we’re #1 in the West right now, but we thought it was time to shake things up and get younger. We’d like to thank Karl for one of his best seasons ever, his devotion to Minnesota, and his willingness to sacrifice for the team, but we decided we should trade him away. We’re going to trade the two-time All NBA, multi-time All Star for a couple younger players. Casual fans might not know these guys because they don’t have national honors, but we think they can fill solid rolls here in the future, and we hope they stay when their contracts run out. We also got some future picks - jerseys with the name saying “future ATL 1st” can be purchased in our online store. And of course, we know you fans are very concerned about our luxury tax payments, so you’ll be happy to know we’re starting off by saving a lot of future money. Now, any questions?”

There's so much wrong here I'm not even going to bother.

Thanks for reminding me why I shouldn't engage with you regarding KAT trades though.

I’m sure you think this is an insult, but I don’t take it that way, these days.

[wolves_89]

It's down to one week from the trade deadline and the guys I'm keeping an eye on fall into 4 groups.

The $8-14M rotation players (some combination of Anderson/Milton/Brown outgoing):
Tyus Jones
Monte Morris
Luke Kennard
Royce Oneal
Alec Burks
Delon Wright

The cheap depth pieces (Moore outgoing):
Kris Dunn
Dennis Smith Jr
Lonnie Walker

The change of scenery guys still on rookie contracts (Milton or Moore outgoing):
Bones Hyland
Davion Mitchell

The buyout market:
Gordon Hayward
Chris Paul
Kyle Lowry
Doug McDermott
Evan Fournier

[Neeva]

What about Bogdon Bogdonavic or Huerter?

[shrink]

Great post.

I just wanted to mention that I’ve given more thought to Gordon Hayward, and while he’d be a great pick up, I think he probably won’t want to be bought out. While a guy like Kyle Lowry is at the end of his career, Hayward is probably looking for one more decent contract. If he does a buy out, he loses his Bird rights for the summer. At that point he can only get a contract through cap space (which is limited to mostly bad teams), or he’s limited to the MLE. His better bet is to stay with CHA, get paid more than the MLE through his Bird rights, then get traded to a contender.

Projected 2024 Cap Space
1. DET: $50.3M
2. CHA: $45.5M (up from $21.7M)
3. ORL: $42.0M
4. PHI: $40.9M
5. UTA: $35.8M
6. TOR: $31.5M
7. SAS: $19.8M

[BlacJacMac]

What about Bogdon Bogdonavic or Huerter?

Bogdan is about 19M, so he's a tough match.

Huerter is like 15.7, so maybe doable. Are the Kings looking to dump him? He starts for the (current) 5th seed.