Trade Talk (Part 15): Trade Deadline Day (and onwards!)

[Loaf_of_bread]

The moment we traded down in talent and fit, while simultaneously not addressing back up PG and C with win now options, this became a step back season. We need to trade Randle for a 4/5 (and draft capital) who can play with Naz or Rudy, then focus on the continued development of our young core and players with potential. And Finch needs to run both and offense and defense that highlights our players strengths and minimizes their weaknesses. Hint, flow offense ain’t it for Ant.

Agree, but unfortunately we won't get any draft capital..

[TimberKat]

The moment we traded down in talent and fit, while simultaneously not addressing back up PG and C with win now options, this became a step back season. We need to trade Randle for a 4/5 (and draft capital) who can play with Naz or Rudy, then focus on the continued development of our young core and players with potential. And Finch needs to run both and offense and defense that highlights our players strengths and minimizes their weaknesses. Hint, flow offense ain’t it for Ant.

The Knicks are not happy with their center right now, the guy scores a lot but can't defend the rim, fouls too much, gets push around by other centers and makes too much money. Maybe we could trade Randle + NAW for him. I bet he will be a good fit with Naz and Rudy as a 4/5 guy.

[Guest84]

Mentioned before that I’m not sure what Tim’s plan is going forward for this team but I hope he understands that it’s ok to admit your mistakes and cut your losses.

Starting with Rudy:
It’s a double edged sword with him. He impacts the defense so much that it’s hard to not have him on the court even if he hinders the offense.

I would deem the trade a success simply based on making it to the west finals. However, I personally would’ve preferred not to extend him. After moving Towns, I think Rudy should’ve been/should be moved as well. Prob part of the reason the team and Ant specifically started launching more 3s.

Randle: I don’t see him here long term and prefer to move him as well.

Naw/Naz: Fan favorites but not sure if I see them here either due to contract situations.

Jaden: May need to seriously consider moving him while he might still have high value. Just too inconsistent. I really want him to blossom into more but I just don’t see it. Not sure if it’s a finch thing or a confidence/assertiveness issue with him.

The roster just doesn’t fit. Even though they made it to the west finals, I still feel it wasn’t the best fit. They just caught lightening in a bottle.

[younggunsmn]

Julius Randle is horrible defensively, selfish, and is one of the worst players you can add to your team chemistry wise.
This has been known for years and years and years.
It's why he was one of the very last players I ever wanted to take back in a KAT trade.

Somehow our worst in the business GM got suckered into taking him because he spent one year with Chris FInch, who runs an offense completely antithetical to everything Julius Randle stands for.

Oh what this team could look like had Tim Connelly just not made the awful Gobert trade that started this downward spiral of front office stupidity. We could be rotating Naz, Kessler, and maybe even Kyle Anderson next to KAT, have all of our draft picks, and not owe a declining Gobert 150 million dollars over the next 4 years.
That extension is looking HORRIFIC right now.
And our cap would look just fine, even with KAT's supermax.

I tried to be optimistic, but this is just awful.
And it's not just the chemistry issues.
Our talent level has also taken a huge hit.
Donte is vastly underperforming, and Mike and Rudy have had huge dropoffs from last year.

[minimus]

Julius Randle is horrible defensively, selfish, and is one of the worst players you can add to your team chemistry wise.
This has been known for years and years and years.
It's why he was one of the very last players I ever wanted to take back in a KAT trade.

Somehow our worst in the business GM got suckered into taking him because he spent one year with Chris FInch, who runs an offense completely antithetical to everything Julius Randle stands for.

Oh what this team could look like had Tim Connelly just not made the awful Gobert trade that started this downward spiral of front office stupidity. We could be rotating Naz, Kessler, and maybe even Kyle Anderson next to KAT, have all of our draft picks, and not owe a declining Gobert 150 million dollars over the next 4 years.
That extension is looking HORRIFIC right now.
And our cap would look just fine, even with KAT's supermax.

I tried to be optimistic, but this is just awful.
And it's not just the chemistry issues.
Our talent level has also taken a huge hit.
Donte is vastly underperforming, and Mike and Rudy have had huge dropoffs from last year.

Nah. Last season we had A LOT of talent because we traded for Gobert, so TC basically built a roster with DPOY, two All-Stars in Towns and Edwards, plus All-NBA defender McDaniels and 6MOY. Thats a lot of talent. And TC did it by trading guys like Vando, Beasley, Kessler and four picks. I will take that path again. But combination of new CBA, small market and ownership situation are huge factors why MIN traded Towns. It was a luxury to have that expensive roster last season, now we dont have it, so it is time to win not only by using talent, but also by giving effort and being smart and mature. But back in first Gobert season it largely looked like disaster as well.

I still like a lot this team, although it is dysfunctional right now, poorly balanced and poorly constructed. Worst case scenario we let Randle go, I'll take this season as one when Edwards will be asked to show whether he is an alpha. But even in worst case scenario we will still have:

Edwards
McDaniels
Gobert
DDV
good chances to re-sign Reid
good chances to re-sign NAW
Conley (last year)
Minott (4th year)
Miller (3rd year)
Dilly (2nd year)
TJ (2nd year)
Clark (2nd, technically 3rd)

[minimus]

One trade if you believe in miracles:

Randle for Lonzo Ball, Jalen Smith

Gobert/Smith/Garza
Reid/Minott/Miller
MCD/NAW/TJ/Ingles
Edwards/DDV/NAW + Clark
DDV/Conley/Dillingham + Ball (when/if healthy)

[TimberKat]

Julius Randle is horrible defensively, selfish, and is one of the worst players you can add to your team chemistry wise.
This has been known for years and years and years.
It's why he was one of the very last players I ever wanted to take back in a KAT trade.

Somehow our worst in the business GM got suckered into taking him because he spent one year with Chris FInch, who runs an offense completely antithetical to everything Julius Randle stands for.

Oh what this team could look like had Tim Connelly just not made the awful Gobert trade that started this downward spiral of front office stupidity. We could be rotating Naz, Kessler, and maybe even Kyle Anderson next to KAT, have all of our draft picks, and not owe a declining Gobert 150 million dollars over the next 4 years.
That extension is looking HORRIFIC right now.
And our cap would look just fine, even with KAT's supermax.

I tried to be optimistic, but this is just awful.
And it's not just the chemistry issues.
Our talent level has also taken a huge hit.
Donte is vastly underperforming, and Mike and Rudy have had huge dropoffs from last year.

Nah. Last season we had A LOT of talent because we traded for Gobert, so TC basically built a roster with DPOY, two All-Stars in Towns and Edwards, plus All-NBA defender McDaniels and 6MOY. Thats a lot of talent. And TC did it by trading guys like Vando, Beasley, Kessler and four picks. I will take that path again. But combination of new CBA, small market and ownership situation are huge factors why MIN traded Towns. It was a luxury to have that expensive roster last season, now we dont have it, so it is time to win not only by using talent, but also by giving effort and being smart and mature. But back in first Gobert season it largely looked like disaster as well.

I still like a lot this team, although it is dysfunctional right now, poorly balanced and poorly constructed. Worst case scenario we let Randle go, I'll take this season as one when Edwards will be asked to show whether he is an alpha. But even in worst case scenario we will still have:

Edwards
McDaniels
Gobert
DDV
good chances to re-sign Reid
good chances to re-sign NAW
Conley (last year)
Minott (4th year)
Miller (3rd year)
Dilly (2nd year)
TJ (2nd year)
Clark (2nd, technically 3rd)

Agree, I would do the Gobert trade again. I wasn't expecting DLo to be so bad and wish Connelly draft a little better. Even with all that, we were just a Malik Monk or a good Jalen Nowell away from going to the finals. I still think the Towns trade is really about Taylor saving millions before selling the team. I don't know when Gobert had to decide on his 2025 option but would preferred we wait until mid or late this season to decide on his extension.

[TimberKat]

I think another thing to keep in mind is Gobert was never meant to be the second best player on the team. With the scoring of Ant, Towns, DLo, Gobert is an highly or overpaid (as some feel) complementary player. Right now, we don't have a second all star to go with Ant and that is problematic.

[Norseman79]

The only player on this roster that should be untouchable right now is Edwards. After Edwards, McDaniels is probably the guy with the highest asking price. So for now let's just say those two are off the table, though I would consider trading McDaniels if it meant getting a legit second star. Let's talk about players that have trade value, Julius, Naz, Naw, DD. Obviously some of the young guys would likely have to be part of packages. Before anyone asks, Rudy cannot be traded until after the season that's why he's not on here.

Randle - please trade him. Find at least a decent starter, a draft pic and go from there. I have mentioned multiple times my preference for him going to Houston, I doubt they do the trade now. So if he can bring back a starting point guard or forward that fits...I am good.

Naz, fans would show up with torches if we traded him. I don't know what they would prefer, us trading him or him walking for nothing? A lot of talk about him resigning here, that he loves it here, that he is part of a big three. I love Naz, He might be a starting 4, the play I have seen from him so far this year does not indicate that. From a trade perspective, I would be looking at the same thing I'm asking for for Randle. His value will not be that high, because of his expiring contract and him about to get more expensive. Of course, if his play continues to be poor his trade value won't be crap either.

NAW, I love the effort, I love the grit, I do not love the offense. I am guessing if we had a legit second string point guard to be able to set people up and do all the work so all he had to do was sit in the corner catch and shoot threes and play defense he would be a great. We don't have that. His contract is expiring. We have a couple of other young shooting guards that have shown potential. Get what you can get for him, in particular draft picks.

DD - yeah I just don't know. If the return is good, I'm trading him all day. Something about the vibe he is giving off isn't good.

[Klomp]

I'm inching back to the NAW for Kessler idea

[Klomp]

Here's a wild idea: Naz Reid for Wendell Carter?

[Neeva]

Here's a wild idea: Naz Reid for Wendell Carter?

What else is Orlando giving up?

[BlacJacMac]

Here's a wild idea: Naz Reid for Wendell Carter?

If Carter could stay healthy, absolutely.

But the only reason Orlando would do it is because he can't.

[Klomp]

Here's a wild idea: Naz Reid for Wendell Carter?

If Carter could stay healthy, absolutely.

But the only reason Orlando would do it is because he can't.

There's also the thinking that if Naz was under contract, we wouldn't. But the only reason would do it is because he's not.

That's kinda the point, and that is exactly why and how trades happen.

[Sealab2024]

I understand the disappointment with Naz so far but I don't blame him honestly. They're playing him at the 5 and Naz has not been a 5 for 3 years. It's not his game. He's a 4 who honestly should go down to 3 before ever being put at the 5.

Connelly messed up the trade. Randle doesn't fit and DDV doesn't want to be here. Trade DDV for a real backup center and a pick and sit Randle if he's not gonna play defense.

[Norseman79]

I really don't think they'll move Naz... I don't actually think they're going to move anybody. But here's a couple that I would get behind...

Naz for Nick Richards and Tre Mann

Naz for Sasser and Holland plus picks

Naz for Cole Anthony and Caleb Houston

Naz for Davion Mitchell, Mogbo, and Chomche plus picks

[Norseman79]

I do want to be clear though, I would expect if they move somebody like Naz it will be the first in a string of trades.

[minimus]

I'm inching back to the NAW for Kessler idea

Read on Twitter

I'd give UTA DET pick and NAW and ask for early SRP.

[ILC]

I'll always be in favor of solid role players core who know their roles and play hard around one star player than let's get as many "stars" as possible.

Current team clearly doesn't fit. Maybe it will in a couple months, I'm not optimistic.

With that in mind my obvious no.1 trade is Randle to a 3rd team (Clippers? Miami? Detroit? Hornets?), an asset from that team (protected first, a young-ish player) to BKN and Cam Johnson to Minnesota.

Then I'd do DDV back to Knicks for their Wizards top 10 protected pick, Achiuwa and a second to ATL and Nance Jr. to MIN.

I know it's not perfect, I know it makes the KAT trade be Cam, Nance and 2 protected 1sts, but I think it would be a much better fit, way more spacing and defense as well and it also reduces the salary bill so there's a better chance to re-sign NAW and Naz in the summer.

Then in the summer maybe a package around those picks, future MIN pick, Rob, Cam, McD gets you in the conversation for a Lauri Markkanen or a similar level player.

[minimus]

DET IN: Randle, C.Martin
DET OUT: Stewart, THJ, TOR 2025 SRP
Why for DET: get talent

CHA IN: THJ, TOR 2025 SRP
CHA OUT: Micic, C.Martin
Why for ORL: get expiring contract

MIN IN: Stewart, Micic
MIN OUT: Randle
Why for MIN: get backup С and PG, increasing probability of DET pick going into late lottery

Gobert/Stewart/Garza
Reid/Minott/Miller
MCD/NAW/TJ/Ingles
Edwards/DDV + Clark
Micic/Conley/Dillingham + Nix