Trade deadline: Buyers, sellers or a little of both?

[breatnach]

I think we will move D'Lo because he is expiring. I'm no CBA wizard, but if we let D'Lo walk or re-sign him at a lower number, then it will be very hard to sign a big name with Ant, KAT and Rudy on the books. If we trade his expiring 30m for a long-term 30m, that keeps a tradable contract on the books for another year. We had a similar situation with trading JJ for Rubio, which basically gave us a tradable contract the following year. Cap space is nearly worthless to us, as we're not a FA destination. You can bet Miami would prefer 30m in cap space to chase whatever big name hits FA this year.

The beauty of having a 30m expiring deal is that you can get nearly any star player that is being sold by a rebuilding team. It's hard to match the salary of a player making 30m, when all your roster is signed to small deals. It could either be an older star who doesn't want to be part of a rebuild, or will be sold for pieces or perhaps a younger player that received a big bag, which the team has started to regret (like when we traded Wiggins).

Players in the range of 20m+ that might be sold by their respective teams include

Lowry (rebuild)
Hayward (rebuild)
Conley (rebuild)
DeRozan (rebuild)
MPJ (buyer's remorse)
FVV (rebuild)
Harris (rebuild)
Collins (rebuild)
Ayton (buyer's remorse)

Now obviously most of these don't make a whole lot of sense, but there might even be a chance we could even get compensated for taking on some of those albatross contracts.

[shrink]

I'm no CBA wizard, but ...

Sounds like you nailed it!

Only thing I would add is that trading DLo for a $20 and a $10 would give us more flexibility for match salaries in trade, either now or next year. I think SloMo and Prince have important roles here, and besides DLo, our next biggest salary is $2 mil

[minimus]

I saw multiple posts on reddit and realgm, where TOR fans saying FVV has been shooting awfully this year. Saying this I would still trade DLo for FVV and give Fred 100/4 extension. I'd reduce offensive load on him, and eventually make him a 6th man.

[Klomp]

I'm no CBA wizard, but ...

Sounds like you nailed it!

Only thing I would add is that trading DLo for a $20 and a $10 would give us more flexibility for match salaries in trade, either now or next year. I think SloMo and Prince have important roles here, and besides DLo, our next biggest salary is $2 mil

This is the logic I've been leaning towards in regards to the Russell discussion. $10-20 million is the sweet spot for matching salaries.

Also, we need to consider the fact that Ant is about to be a $25-30 million contract on the books in 2024-25. Jaden will likely be around $20 million as well. I'm not sure keeping another $30 million-plus is feasible, unless we commit to being a major tax payer.

[shangrila]

I saw multiple posts on reddit and realgm, where TOR fans saying FVV has been shooting awfully this year. Saying this I would still trade DLo for FVV and give Fred 100/4 extension. I'd reduce offensive load on him, and eventually make him a 6th man.

He looks seriously cooked right now. Nurse is apparently the new Thibs. Not sure I want to take the chance on his health improving after that.

[Nick K]

I saw multiple posts on reddit and realgm, where TOR fans saying FVV has been shooting awfully this year. Saying this I would still trade DLo for FVV and give Fred 100/4 extension. I'd reduce offensive load on him, and eventually make him a 6th man.

He looks seriously cooked right now. Nurse is apparently the new Thibs. Not sure I want to take the chance on his health improving after that.

Agreed on FVV. Kyle Lowry, who I really like, is cooked too. Stay away.

[BlacJacMac]

I saw multiple posts on reddit and realgm, where TOR fans saying FVV has been shooting awfully this year. Saying this I would still trade DLo for FVV and give Fred 100/4 extension. I'd reduce offensive load on him, and eventually make him a 6th man.

He looks seriously cooked right now. Nurse is apparently the new Thibs. Not sure I want to take the chance on his health improving after that.

Agreed on FVV. Kyle Lowry, who I really like, is cooked too. Stay away.

VanVleet has been playing hurt most of the year. Back spasms will easily affect your shooting.

He's 28 years old with 10K miles on him. I doubt he's cooked.

Lowry, on the other hand, is 36 with 34K miles. There is likely little to no tread on those tires.

I'd absolutely take a chance on FVV if the cost is Russell.

[Norseman79]

Trade 1

Russell to New York for Fournier, Quickly, Toppin.

New York gets out of Fournier and can play Dlo next to Brunson, plus gain the 31 million in expiring for next year. Wolves add a PG in Quickly who could fit nice next to Ant, Toppin who adds some depth at PF, and Fournier who has a history of being a good shooter.

Trade 2

DLo, Forbes, and Matt Ryan to Charlotte
Hayward, McDaniels and Maledon plus pick to MN.

Charlotte gets out of Hayward at the cost of 1 first and two depth pieces. MN moves on from DLo, getting a vet shooter in Hayward off the bench and young PF and PG depth that could be resigned. Maledon would fit nice next to Ant and McDaniels off the bench can guard 2-5 like his bro and is 35% 3.

[Klomp]

Trade 1

Russell to New York for Fournier, Quickly, Toppin.

New York gets out of Fournier and can play Dlo next to Brunson, plus gain the 31 million in expiring for next year. Wolves add a PG in Quickly who could fit nice next to Ant, Toppin who adds some depth at PF, and Fournier who has a history of being a good shooter.

Trade 2

DLo, Forbes, and Matt Ryan to Charlotte
Hayward, McDaniels and Maledon plus pick to MN.

Charlotte gets out of Hayward at the cost of 1 first and two depth pieces. MN moves on from DLo, getting a vet shooter in Hayward off the bench and young PF and PG depth that could be resigned. Maledon would fit nice next to Ant and McDaniels off the bench can guard 2-5 like his bro and is 35% 3.

I think it's a sneaky good idea to trade for guys who have a history with Gobert. Both trades here accomplish this.

[moss_is_1]

Main issue I'd have if we did Lowry/Robinson for Dlo is that we'd have to add Prince or Slomo into that deal. Lowry for Russel saves us money this year, and we could get a pick.

What if it was Lowry, Robinson, Caleb Martin and a pick for Dlo and Tp or Slomo? Robinson could have value to us since we desperately need shooting.

[shangrila]

Trade 1

Russell to New York for Fournier, Quickly, Toppin.

New York gets out of Fournier and can play Dlo next to Brunson, plus gain the 31 million in expiring for next year. Wolves add a PG in Quickly who could fit nice next to Ant, Toppin who adds some depth at PF, and Fournier who has a history of being a good shooter.

Trade 2

DLo, Forbes, and Matt Ryan to Charlotte
Hayward, McDaniels and Maledon plus pick to MN.

Charlotte gets out of Hayward at the cost of 1 first and two depth pieces. MN moves on from DLo, getting a vet shooter in Hayward off the bench and young PF and PG depth that could be resigned. Maledon would fit nice next to Ant and McDaniels off the bench can guard 2-5 like his bro and is 35% 3.

Highly doubt the Knicks give up Toppin for salary relief.

Quickley might be doable, maybe something like Russell and Nowell for Fournier, Quickley and Reddish?

[Biff Cooper]

He looks seriously cooked right now. Nurse is apparently the new Thibs. Not sure I want to take the chance on his health improving after that.

Agreed on FVV. Kyle Lowry, who I really like, is cooked too. Stay away.

VanVleet has been playing hurt most of the year. Back spasms will easily affect your shooting.

He's 28 years old with 10K miles on him. I doubt he's cooked.

Lowry, on the other hand, is 36 with 34K miles. There is likely little to no tread on those tires.

I'd absolutely take a chance on FVV if the cost is Russell.

I'm game for / DLo trade. Don't think he is cooked.

[NebWolvesFan]

I think DLo and Naz get traded at the deadline, and DLo and Naz will probably be the best player in those deals. Not sure if that means we are buyers or sellers. But those trade should get Minnesota some future draft picks and vet players on the 23-24 roster. Remember, Minnesota has few ways to acquire solid players this offseason. Either sign and trade (tough), MLE or NYK SRP. Not much. Try and get some solid vets and picks and wish DLo and Naz the best.

I was on the side of waiting for a potential Sign and Trade for DLo, but recent reports of him sulking and complaining pushes me to move him at the deadline. I wouldn't roll the dice on Naz. A team with a starting spot and a MLE deal could steal him. He won't start here with KAT and Rudy. I worry we would lose him for nothing.

[IceManBK1]

Dlo, prince and naz for cp3 and mikal bridges now. Towns for ayton and couple 1sts in the summer. Dlo, booker and towns the 3 amigos can all be on one team.

[Klomp]

That leaves a group of six teams who are all firmly in the playoff mix, but aren’t really in danger of dipping into the luxury tax. They make up that forgotten “middle” when it comes to salary accounting: Not sitting on cap space, but not so expensive you can almost rattle off their tax bill from memory.

The Cleveland Cavaliers, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, New York Knicks and Sacramento Kings should all be making a push and looking to add money to this year’s cap sheet.

The first reason is obvious. Each of these teams should be looking to strengthen their rosters for a playoff push. That’s simple enough.

The second reason is a bit more obtuse. It lies in a bit of cap sheet management that we can all “use it or lose it” flexibility. The Cavs, Grizzlies, Wolves, Pelicans, Knicks and Kings are all sitting on a decent chunk of spending power before they hit the tax line. This summer, things reset. For a few of these teams, they could find themselves having to make decisions for this offseason and beyond that involve going into the tax or not. But for right now, for this 2023 playoff run, each team has the ability to improve without pushing themselves into a financially burdensome spot. Let’s take a look.

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[Biff Cooper]

We are only $3M under the luxury tax threshold. That doesn't seem like that much extra space to play with.

Our best bet is probably trading DLo's $31.4M expiring to a rebuilding team for up to $34.4M of their non-expiring contract(s)

[Nick K]

He looks seriously cooked right now. Nurse is apparently the new Thibs. Not sure I want to take the chance on his health improving after that.

Agreed on FVV. Kyle Lowry, who I really like, is cooked too. Stay away.

VanVleet has been playing hurt most of the year. Back spasms will easily affect your shooting.

He's 28 years old with 10K miles on him. I doubt he's cooked.

Lowry, on the other hand, is 36 with 34K miles. There is likely little to no tread on those tires.

I'd absolutely take a chance on FVV if the cost is Russell.

I didn't know that about FVV. Back problems are difficult to evaluate. Some heal and some are troublesome for ages. I like Fred. I love Lowry. He'd be ideal. If he had 2 strong years left I'd trade for him. Unfortunately, nobody beats father time.

[shrink]

I read the TOR board last week, and the vast majority hate Fred Van Vleet. Ever since the All Star Game, he’s had the worst FG% in the NBA. Even worse, he keeps shooting, like 16 a game. Some call him selfish, and he blames others for the Raptors woes this year. He’s not anything like the leader that Kyle Lowry is.

I used to love Fred, but 11 months of bad shooting is more than a slump. I’m very concerned the back issues are the cause.

Finally, he’s a dangerous contract for us with his player option. Even if he suddenly begins to play better, he could become a coveted free agent in a weak class, and he might walk for nothing.

The path to upside on adding FVV is a narrow one, but there are several ways MIN could hurt themselves with Fred.

[shangrila]

Agreed on FVV. Kyle Lowry, who I really like, is cooked too. Stay away.

VanVleet has been playing hurt most of the year. Back spasms will easily affect your shooting.

He's 28 years old with 10K miles on him. I doubt he's cooked.

Lowry, on the other hand, is 36 with 34K miles. There is likely little to no tread on those tires.

I'd absolutely take a chance on FVV if the cost is Russell.

I didn't know that about FVV. Back problems are difficult to evaluate. Some heal and some are troublesome for ages. I like Fred. I love Lowry. He'd be ideal. If he had 2 strong years left I'd trade for him. Unfortunately, nobody beats father time.

Round how Thibs would grind guys down to dust to make his bread? Go check the Raptors players minutes the last few years. Nurse is basically a carbon copy.

Given that pretty much all of the old ironmen that played for those coaches (Butler, Deng, KAT) have all had long term injury issues from that kind of crap there's just no way I can bet on FVV improving. I'm sure he won't be worst player ever but he's likely to stay a 1 time All Star if you know what I mean.

[Rodrickle]

Hey Raps fan here. Just wondering if you guys view Naz Reid? Is he good enough to be a starting center on a good team? And is he good defensively?

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