Re: Trade Talk (Part Twelve): 2023 Playoff Push Edition

[Neeva]

Seriously Rudy is just making more timberwolves fans hate him more than they already do. He is is such a bonehead.

[Slim Tubby]

Seriously Rudy is just making more timberwolves fans hate him more than they already do. He is is such a bonehead.

Wolves fans "hate" Rudy??? For what? Did he make the trade? Did he not play well for us last year? I don't understand the personal animosity towards Gobert and it's just plain childish.

From a Wolves perspective, Rudy's decision makes me very nervous. However, I can think of no bigger honor and thrill than playing for your country and flag no matter how many times you've done it before.

[Colbinii]

Seriously Rudy is just making more timberwolves fans hate him more than they already do. He is is such a bonehead.

Wolves fans "hate" Rudy??? For what? Did he make the trade? Did he not play well for us last year? I don't understand the personal animosity towards Gobert and it's just plain childish.

From a Wolves perspective, Rudy's decision makes me very nervous. However, I can think of no bigger honor and thrill than playing for your country and flag no matter how many times you've done it before.

Brah, sports fans who actually hate players/teams suffer from serious mental issues. Just let them be

[Neeva]

Seriously Rudy is just making more timberwolves fans hate him more than they already do. He is is such a bonehead.

Wolves fans "hate" Rudy??? For what? Did he make the trade? Did he not play well for us last year? I don't understand the personal animosity towards Gobert and it's just plain childish.

From a Wolves perspective, Rudy's decision makes me very nervous. However, I can think of no bigger honor and thrill than playing for your country and flag no matter how many times you've done it before.

Sure if you ignore his offcourt issues that have some wolves fans hating him as well.

[urinesane]

Seriously Rudy is just making more timberwolves fans hate him more than they already do. He is is such a bonehead.

Wolves fans "hate" Rudy??? For what? Did he make the trade? Did he not play well for us last year? I don't understand the personal animosity towards Gobert and it's just plain childish.

From a Wolves perspective, Rudy's decision makes me very nervous. However, I can think of no bigger honor and thrill than playing for your country and flag no matter how many times you've done it before.

Sure if you ignore his offcourt issues that have some wolves fans hating him as well.

What are his offcourt issues?

[Norseman79]

Based off Connolly's press conference, if we trade anybody, the people coming back are going to be hardworking, relentless, humble team first people. That play hard both ways and can accept a role. So I don't know enough about NBA players to know who fits that mold that might be available, but essentially he's looking for two-way dogs that don't quit until it's over over

[younggunsmn]

The Damian Lillard situation is something to keep an eye on as it might give us a window to maximize our value for KAT, where a star player twisting the arm of his franchise to improve might get us more back than they'd give up otherwise.

Nurkic and Simons would have to be salary filler, and Nurkic for sure would need to be passed on to a 3rd team.
Scoot Henderson would have to be coming back.
Hmm, maybe if his rookie salary was included (ala wiggins for love) you could leave Nurkic out.
Would have to wait forever for that though.
Not sure what KAT's salary matching looks like due to the extension starting much higher than his 36 mil for 2023.

Maybe they will move on from Dame instead though.
He will be 33 when the season starts and is owed massive money through his age 36 season..

[younggunsmn]

It’s a horrible look for Gobert. You can’t blame your struggles last year on playing competitive basketball in the summer, then go and do it again.

Exactly. Not a good look. Excuses.
Was glad to see that he was in town working out but disappointed by this.
Would have sent a message that he was committed to having a much better 2nd season here if he had passed.

It's an odd number year (not olympics like next year), and shouldnt be as big a deal.
But I can see how these games might mean more to foreign players playing away from home.
Probably means a fair bit in endorsement income too for someone like Rudy.

Doesn't mean I'm still not disappointed he didn't put the wolves 1st after making a big deal about how being gassed from international play last summer hurt him last year.

[Calinks]

The Damian Lillard situation is something to keep an eye on as it might give us a window to maximize our value for KAT, where a star player twisting the arm of his franchise to improve might get us more back than they'd give up otherwise.

Nurkic and Simons would have to be salary filler, and Nurkic for sure would need to be passed on to a 3rd team.
Scoot Henderson would have to be coming back.
Hmm, maybe if his rookie salary was included (ala wiggins for love) you could leave Nurkic out.
Would have to wait forever for that though.
Not sure what KAT's salary matching looks like due to the extension starting much higher than his 36 mil for 2023.

Maybe they will move on from Dame instead though.
He will be 33 when the season starts and is owed massive money through his age 36 season..

What if we wind up trading for Dame? Sounds like he doesn't want to just want to go to a contender, he wants to build something. What if we can make some crazy deal to get Dame? Maybe Portland really likes Rudy?

Dame, Ant, KAT backed by Naz, Jaden, and Conley.

Nuggets are doomed. KAT will distract Jokic. Naz comes in off the bench to finish the tired Jokic off with his constant energy. Murray has to battle Jaden and NAW every possession, they he gets smoked by Lillard when he has to try and stop him. Then Goron has to guard Ant but he gets smoked as Ant is way too fast. Wolves destroy Denver.

Chip incoming.

[Slim Tubby]

The Damian Lillard situation is something to keep an eye on as it might give us a window to maximize our value for KAT, where a star player twisting the arm of his franchise to improve might get us more back than they'd give up otherwise.

Nurkic and Simons would have to be salary filler, and Nurkic for sure would need to be passed on to a 3rd team.
Scoot Henderson would have to be coming back.
Hmm, maybe if his rookie salary was included (ala wiggins for love) you could leave Nurkic out.
Would have to wait forever for that though.
Not sure what KAT's salary matching looks like due to the extension starting much higher than his 36 mil for 2023.

Maybe they will move on from Dame instead though.
He will be 33 when the season starts and is owed massive money through his age 36 season..

If they keep Lillard, weird as it might be, it seems like the only realistic trade that POR can make that could potentially make them better than MIN is one for KAT. (Assuming the trade is for Scoot, Simons and Nurkic)

I don't believe there is ANY trade that POR can pull off that gets them even remotely close to the WCF's. I'm baffled why they have waited so long to start the rebuild. The rumored MIA offers are trash unless they steal value from a third team.

[Slim Tubby]

The Damian Lillard situation is something to keep an eye on as it might give us a window to maximize our value for KAT, where a star player twisting the arm of his franchise to improve might get us more back than they'd give up otherwise.

Nurkic and Simons would have to be salary filler, and Nurkic for sure would need to be passed on to a 3rd team.
Scoot Henderson would have to be coming back.
Hmm, maybe if his rookie salary was included (ala wiggins for love) you could leave Nurkic out.
Would have to wait forever for that though.
Not sure what KAT's salary matching looks like due to the extension starting much higher than his 36 mil for 2023.

Maybe they will move on from Dame instead though.
He will be 33 when the season starts and is owed massive money through his age 36 season..

What if we wind up trading for Dame? Sounds like he doesn't want to just want to go to a contender, he wants to build something. What if we can make some crazy deal to get Dame? Maybe Portland really likes Rudy?

Dame, Ant, KAT backed by Naz, Jaden, and Conley.

Nuggets are doomed. KAT will distract Jokic. Naz comes in off the bench to finish the tired Jokic off with his constant energy. Murray has to battle Jaden and NAW every possession, they he gets smoked by Lillard when he has to try and stop him. Then Goron has to guard Ant but he gets smoked as Ant is way too fast. Wolves destroy Denver.

Chip incoming.

Whatever you're drinking, make mine a double, good man!!!

[TimberKat]

The Damian Lillard situation is something to keep an eye on as it might give us a window to maximize our value for KAT, where a star player twisting the arm of his franchise to improve might get us more back than they'd give up otherwise.

Nurkic and Simons would have to be salary filler, and Nurkic for sure would need to be passed on to a 3rd team.
Scoot Henderson would have to be coming back.
Hmm, maybe if his rookie salary was included (ala wiggins for love) you could leave Nurkic out.
Would have to wait forever for that though.
Not sure what KAT's salary matching looks like due to the extension starting much higher than his 36 mil for 2023.

Maybe they will move on from Dame instead though.
He will be 33 when the season starts and is owed massive money through his age 36 season..

If they keep Lillard, weird as it might be, it seems like the only realistic trade that POR can make that could potentially make them better than MIN is one for KAT. (Assuming the trade is for Scoot, Simons and Nurkic)

I don't believe there is ANY trade that POR can pull off that gets them even remotely close to the WCF's. I'm baffled why they have waited so long to start the rebuild. The rumored MIA offers are trash unless they steal value from a third team.

Consider where they finished last year, they are closer to rebuild than contend. They need to make a trade for someone at least at KAT's level, resign Grant, and sign another big time free agent to compete. It would seem move Lillard is the easier choice, especially with Lillard's age, amt and length of his contract. They would be looking for someone younger than KAT, so KAT for Lillard or Scoot not likely.

[Slim Tubby]

The Damian Lillard situation is something to keep an eye on as it might give us a window to maximize our value for KAT, where a star player twisting the arm of his franchise to improve might get us more back than they'd give up otherwise.

Nurkic and Simons would have to be salary filler, and Nurkic for sure would need to be passed on to a 3rd team.
Scoot Henderson would have to be coming back.
Hmm, maybe if his rookie salary was included (ala wiggins for love) you could leave Nurkic out.
Would have to wait forever for that though.
Not sure what KAT's salary matching looks like due to the extension starting much higher than his 36 mil for 2023.

Maybe they will move on from Dame instead though.
He will be 33 when the season starts and is owed massive money through his age 36 season..

If they keep Lillard, weird as it might be, it seems like the only realistic trade that POR can make that could potentially make them better than MIN is one for KAT. (Assuming the trade is for Scoot, Simons and Nurkic)

I don't believe there is ANY trade that POR can pull off that gets them even remotely close to the WCF's. I'm baffled why they have waited so long to start the rebuild. The rumored MIA offers are trash unless they steal value from a third team.

Consider where they finished last year, they are closer to rebuild than contend. They need to make a trade for someone at least at KAT's level, resign Grant, and sign another big time free agent to compete. It would seem move Lillard is the easier choice, especially with Lillard's age, amt and length of his contract. They would be looking for someone younger than KAT, so KAT for Lillard or Scoot not likely.

Agreed, TK. KAT would have to go to a third team, like TOR for example, with a young player like Barnes and a couple future picks back to POR.

[TimberKat]

My question is why do we praise Wembanyama for not playing for his country, but look the other way when Ant does it?

Is this a double standard where we ignore anything Ant does negatively, but pounce on the players we dislike?

Or is it American posters praising American players for playing for Team USA, but condemning foreign players for wanting to represent their home nations, in basketball that arguably means more to them than Americans?

I’ve found that rather humorous as well.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I double down on the double standard. It's almost like: foreign players, we own you attitude (just generally speaking from media and stuff, not directed at anyone here).

I do have to say playing outdoor in summer in Jakarta is very taxing. They also don't have air conditions there. But really, temperature is the same all year around there. What's more important than represent your country? I am actually disappointed Wembanyama wasn't there but do respect his personal choice. Players could get hurt in any games and it is not like Gobert is going to flying in for a dunk.

[Domejandro]

While I would have preferred that Rudy Gobert sit out, it is baked into his contract that he is allowed to play for his national team (all players have this, with stipulations for injuries).

Hopefully, Rudy Gobert stays healthy. If not, it would be a real bummer. Would be better if it wasn’t in miserably humid Jakarta, but oh well.

[Klomp]

The Lillard situation should be monitored not only for Lillard, but for if we could get involved as a third team.

[Baseline81]

The Lillard situation should be monitored not only for Lillard, but for if we could get involved as a third team.

How so?

I see it similar to when Garnett was moved. The organization traded him to a team he wanted to go to. As such, aren't the only teams in consideration Brooklyn and Miami? What do either of them have the Wolves would be interested in, noting Bridges is off the table.

[Krapinsky]

I don’t think I’ve seen anyone discuss the possibility that Slo Mo could be traded. He’s a classic ‘he’s worth more to us than to you’ guy in that he is a fan favorite and was a critical piece for us last year, so I get it. But he’s on an expiring deal and he may be a luxury the team can’t afford to bring back after next season with Naz now back in the fold. I also think his pairing with Towns playing the 4 (and SLO Mo moving down to the 3) is clunky, so it will be hard for him to repeat his success so long as Towns and Gobert stay healthy. I would think he has more value around the league than Prince so he could be net something more exciting in return. Not endorsing this approach but thinking it through, I could see him traded.

[minimus]

John Collins for expiring and SRP, makes me think that at the moment Towns value is not that high as we think. Also 2nd apron is already scaring teams, which means that cap space, expiring contracts again have value. FOs are looking forwards to new NBA TV deal, but I am not sure if it really helps

[shrink]

I don’t think I’ve seen anyone discuss the possibility that Slo Mo could be traded. He’s a classic ‘he’s worth more to us than to you’ guy in that he is a fan favorite and was a critical piece for us last year, so I get it. But he’s on an expiring deal and he may be a luxury the team can’t afford to bring back after next season with Naz now back in the fold. I also think his pairing with Towns playing the 4 (and SLO Mo moving down to the 3) is clunky, so it will be hard for him to repeat his success so long as Towns and Gobert stay healthy. I would think he has more value around the league than Prince so he could be net something more exciting in return. Not endorsing this approach but thinking it through, I could see him traded.

SloMo was great with Gobert, so I think we’ll see lots of minutes with that pairing, and lots of minutes with Naz and KAT. I think we’ll have to wait and see whether KAT or Naz is the better de facto PF. I expect we open and close with Rudy-KAT paired, but SloMo helps this team run - he’ll get his minutes.

Also, I think the bigger problem is, what do we do next year? If he plays like he did last year, the team needs him, but the lux taxes to give him a new deal will be through the roof.