Trade Talk (Part 16): Early Season Anxiety Edition

[winforlose]

Jaden was solid in the postseason. His contract is fine.

12 pts a game and 4 rebs for 148 million is not fine. But you're also the same person who thinks trading an MVP candidate level player for scrubs is okay.

The only reason tonight’s game is close is because Jaden found something in the second when everyone else couldn’t. No, I don’t mean hitting a 3 (which was nice,) just a level of effort and energy that sparked us. Jaden is the offensive X factor and Rudy is the defensive X factor.

[Note30]

Jaden was solid in the postseason. His contract is fine.

12 pts a game and 4 rebs for 148 million is not fine. But you're also the same person who thinks trading an MVP candidate level player for scrubs is okay.

The only reason tonight’s game is close is because Jaden found something in the second when everyone else couldn’t. No, I don’t mean hitting a 3 (which was nice,) just a level of effort and energy that sparked us. Jaden is the offensive X factor and Rudy is the defensive X factor.

We're still losing, it doesn't matter. He's playing the same way he always has. He's the X factor in us going 14-12?! Oh great, so happy we have an 'offensive' X factor keeping us at above .500.

Bro he can't dribble the damn ball, he has ZERO bag. Energy and hustle can't only carry you so far.

Rudy is definitely playing well tonight. But he **** should be there isn't a guy on that roster that's even 6'10 playing. He's 7'1.

[Norseman79]

McDaniels isn't the problem. We have two/three big problems.

1. In my opinion, the biggest is Mike Conley Jr. Regressing the way he has on both ends.

2. The lack of depth at the 1 and 5 positions.

3. Complete lack of chemistry/fun

[Domejandro]

CHI: Julius Randle and Wendell Moore Jr.
OUT: Lonzo Ball, Jalen Smith, 2025 POR FRP (1-14 Protected), and 2027 CHI FRP (debate protections)

DET: Lonzo Ball and 2025 DET FRP (1-13 Protected)
OUT: Wendell Moore Jr. and 2030 MIN SRP

MIN: Jalen Smith and 2025 POR FRP (1-14 Protected), 2027 CHI FRP (debate protections), and 2030 MIN SRP
OUT: Julius Randle and 2025 DET FRP (1-13 Protected)


Not a good package (value variable), but it would give Minnesota a solid backup big man and cut $24.5MM off of their books. Avoids both aprons, would only be in the tax by $5.5MM.

Probably better to take Lonzo Ball and keep the first, but ducking the Second Apron also has longterm value.

[basketballRob]

Cole Anthony for DDV?

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM mobile app

[shrink]

Cole Anthony for DDV?

I feel like that makes MIN worse offensively and defensively.

Congrats on one nice game, but most of the time he scores four points or less.

Now if you wanted to talk about letting Jalen Suggs return to his hometown, that might start getting some assets!

[thinktank]

Finch playing Randle down the stretch last night when Naz was (is) better means they’re maximizing his value for the deadline. Hope to God we trade him.

Shoulda got Tre when we had the chance (if you were going to trade KAT). Now we could be stuck with his ex-backcourt mate Murray!

[Godaddycurse]

CHI: Julius Randle and Wendell Moore Jr.
OUT: Lonzo Ball, Jalen Smith, 2025 POR FRP (1-14 Protected), and 2027 CHI FRP (debate protections)

DET: Lonzo Ball and 2025 DET FRP (1-13 Protected)
OUT: Wendell Moore Jr. and 2030 MIN SRP

MIN: Jalen Smith and 2025 POR FRP (1-14 Protected), 2027 CHI FRP (debate protections), and 2030 MIN SRP
OUT: Julius Randle and 2025 DET FRP (1-13 Protected)


Not a good package (value variable), but it would give Minnesota a solid backup big man and cut $24.5MM off of their books. Avoids both aprons, would only be in the tax by $5.5MM.

Probably better to take Lonzo Ball and keep the first, but ducking the Second Apron also has longterm value.

1) bulls are trying to trade lavine/vuc and go young by all accounts
2) Randle isn't worth 2 1sts, esp not to a borderline play in team like the bulls
3) Detroit only has about 15M capspace and cant do a lonzo for Moore Jr swap

[shrink]

I have no problems with Jaden McDaniels contract. He is already elite at half the game, and he has potential on the other half.

He’s 24, and we have him locked in for five full years as the cap rises the full 10% for the foreseeable future.

I would also caution against making salary comparisons based on a single player. Each individual negotiation is between one player and one team. For example, Herb Jones at $12 mil is a crappy deal compared to NAW at $4 mil.

I don’t like one-on-one comps, but for those who do, All Defense Alex Caruso just signed a four year extension, for $20 a year.

Jaden is also All Defense and got $26. However, Jaden’s deal is 5 years, he just turned 24 and 6-9. Caruso 6-4 and about to turn 31. I’d rather have McDaniels, $6 mil more for the extra upside. But I think they are comparable.

[BlacJacMac]

I have no problems with Jaden McDaniels contract. He is already elite at half the game, and he has potential on the other half.

He’s 24, and we have him locked in for five full years as the cap rises the full 10% for the foreseeable future.

I would also caution against making salary comparisons based on a single player. Each individual negotiation is between one player and one team. For example, Herb Jones at $12 mil is a crappy deal compared to NAW at $4 mil.

I don’t like one-on-one comps, but for those who do, All Defense Alex Caruso just signed a four year extension, for $20 a year.

Jaden is also All Defense and got $26. However, Jaden’s deal is 5 years, he just turned 24 and 6-9. Caruso 6-4 and about to turn 31. I’d rather have McDaniels, $6 mil more for the extra upside. But I think they are comparable.

Unfortunately, Caruso might have just set NAW's next price.

Similar players, but NAW is much younger and is having a WAY better year.

[Klomp]

I have no problems with Jaden McDaniels contract. He is already elite at half the game, and he has potential on the other half.

He’s 24, and we have him locked in for five full years as the cap rises the full 10% for the foreseeable future.

I would also caution against making salary comparisons based on a single player. Each individual negotiation is between one player and one team. For example, Herb Jones at $12 mil is a crappy deal compared to NAW at $4 mil.

I don’t like one-on-one comps, but for those who do, All Defense Alex Caruso just signed a four year extension, for $20 a year.

Jaden is also All Defense and got $26. However, Jaden’s deal is 5 years, he just turned 24 and 6-9. Caruso 6-4 and about to turn 31. I’d rather have McDaniels, $6 mil more for the extra upside. But I think they are comparable.

Unfortunately, Caruso might have just set NAW's next price.

Similar players, but NAW is much younger and is having a WAY better year.

I've been saying for months that I thought he'd get $15-20 million AAV.

[shrink]

I have no problems with Jaden McDaniels contract. He is already elite at half the game, and he has potential on the other half.

He’s 24, and we have him locked in for five full years as the cap rises the full 10% for the foreseeable future.

I would also caution against making salary comparisons based on a single player. Each individual negotiation is between one player and one team. For example, Herb Jones at $12 mil is a crappy deal compared to NAW at $4 mil.

I don’t like one-on-one comps, but for those who do, All Defense Alex Caruso just signed a four year extension, for $20 a year.

Jaden is also All Defense and got $26. However, Jaden’s deal is 5 years, he just turned 24 and 6-9. Caruso 6-4 and about to turn 31. I’d rather have McDaniels, $6 mil more for the extra upside. But I think they are comparable.

Unfortunately, Caruso might have just set NAW's next price.

Similar players, but NAW is much younger and is having a WAY better year.

Great point - I hadn’t thought of that. Yikes.

I will say that many times, teams don’t have cap space, so the most they can offer is the MLE. Often the original team uses their Bird rights offers a bit more, and it’s the highest offer. Next year, the non-tax MLE will be like $14.1. However, I will mention that the new apron rules affect this as well. If a team used their MLE on NAW, they will hard cap them at the apron, so that may discourage some buyers.

I’m hoping for under $15, assuming NAW doesn’t make an All Defense team.

[cmoss84]

With Mo Wagner out...does Orlando get desperate and offer a package for Julius?

[minimus]

With Mo Wagner out...does Orlando get desperate and offer a package for Julius?

They need shooters, but at some degree Randle is poor version of scoring/passing forward that are Franz and Paolo. So ORL are not desperate, mostly because they have DEN and own FRP in projected strong 2025 draft. But, I am very intrigued by possiblity to acquire J.Isaac, as his defensive versatility and length might have same effect Kyle Anderson had on our defense: he can defend at C as backup big.

Randle for J.Isaac, Jett Howard and ORL SRP. Howard and SRP re-routed to 3rd team.

Gobert/Isaac/Reid + Garza
Reid/Minott/Isaac + Miller
McDaniels/NAW/TJ + Ingles
Edwards/DDV/Dozier + Clark
Conley/Rob/NAW + Nix

This roster at least will have strong defensive structure with Isaac anchoring second unit.

[Note30]

We need two way talent and I don't think it's going to be easy to get. We kind of need to gamble as its not going to get better for the Wolves from here.

Thinking we need one big trade.

I know this is a bad idea from the get go, but I rather swing and miss on a known but unavailable talent then whats going on now.

3 team trade LAC/MIN/NOP

MIN out: Randle, DDV, McDaniels, Conley, TSJ, Miller, DET 1st, 2025 PHI pick
MIN in: Leonard, Murray, Derrick Jones Jr.

LAC out: Leonard, Jones Jr., Tucker
LAC in: Ingram, Randle, Miller

NOP out: Ingram, Murray
NOP in: McDaniels, Conley, Divencenzo, TSJ, Tucker, picks

Not sure what the trade markets for BI would be but, McDaniels seems like a cheaper younger version.

We take a huge risk on Kawhi but if he's around can change the level of this team and restore some faith around here.

Murray and BI is honestly the only piece here I think would be difficult but if BI really wants out I think this could work for the clippers as they get their picks back in 2026 and this could workout nicely if they have to rebuild.

The Pelicans would get McDaniels, they would plan their start for a tank for the next two years. Fire sale and start early.

Honestly this deal isnt great for the Pels but it clears their books and gives them a couple of more movable contracts around McD and DDV.

For us

Murray/Dillignham
Ant/NAW
Kawhi/Derrick Jones
Reid/Minott
Gobert/Garza

We basically gamble on Kawhi, but if healthy this would be somewhat closer to what we had last year. Jones Jr should be able to slide PF and can play the 3 well as we saw in the playoffs last year.

[shrink]

We need two way talent and I don't think it's going to be easy to get. We kind of need to gamble as its not going to get better for the Wolves from here.

Thinking we need one big trade.

I know this is a bad idea from the get go, but I rather swing and miss on a known but unavailable talent then whats going on now.

3 team trade LAC/MIN/NOP

MIN out: Randle, DDV, McDaniels, Conley, TSJ, Miller, DET 1st, 2025 PHI pick
MIN in: Leonard, Murray, Derrick Jones Jr.

LAC out: Leonard, Jones Jr., Tucker
LAC in: Ingram, Randle, Miller

NOP out: Ingram, Murray
NOP in: McDaniels, Conley, Divencenzo, TSJ, Tucker, picks

Not sure what the trade markets for BI would be but, McDaniels seems like a cheaper younger version.

We take a huge risk on Kawhi but if he's around can change the level of this team and restore some faith around here.

Murray and BI is honestly the only piece here I think would be difficult but if BI really wants out I think this could work for the clippers as they get their picks back in 2026 and this could workout nicely if they have to rebuild.

The Pelicans would get McDaniels, they would plan their start for a tank for the next two years. Fire sale and start early.

Honestly this deal isnt great for the Pels but it clears their books and gives them a couple of more movable contracts around McD and DDV.

For us

Murray/Dillignham
Ant/NAW
Kawhi/Derrick Jones
Reid/Minott
Gobert/Garza

We basically gamble on Kawhi, but if healthy this would be somewhat closer to what we had last year. Jones Jr should be able to slide PF and can play the 3 well as we saw in the playoffs last year.

MIN adds $6.3 mil in salary. Apron Rules say they can’t add salary, plus they can’t aggregate salaries, so they can’t add salaries together to trade for a $49 mil Kawhi.

MIN either needs to focus on players that make less than any individual player they send out, or complete a deal where they lose $10 mil in salary after the deal and drop below the apron.

I know everyone has their favorite Trade Checker, but I’d encourage people to only use Spotrac’s checker right now, until the other ones include apron rules.

[Norseman79]

Curious....what is everyone's best available player at positions of need?

PG- Murray, Poole, Brogdon, Ball, Smart
PF- ????
C (backup)- Kessler, Poeltl

Here is. Two part trade I have been thinking about...

Minnesota- Randle out
In- Poeltle, Mitchell, Temple

Raptors- out Poeltle, Mitchell, Temple
In- Randle

2nd part of trade....

Minnesota out - NAW
In - protected 1 and salary fill

Raptors- out protected 1, salary fill
In- NAW

PG - Davion Mitchell, Conley, Dillingham
SG - Edwards, DD
SF - McDaniels, Minott
PF - Reid, Miller
C. - Gobert, Poeltl, Garza

I get it, Poeltl is not cheap, MN still needs to resign Mitchell and Reid in this scenario...but, Conley either needs to retire or be gone after this season, there would be a path to resign both. Poeltl could also give freedom to move on from Gobert in the off-season if wanted/needed. Rip away

[minimus]

Read on Twitter

While Dyson Daniels stats suggests that maybe poor defense in ATL was not Murray fault, he might be another bad fit in offense: he is not a pure PG, not 3pt shooter. We have enough comboguards. But he is for sure the best talent here

[Guest84]

Leave Kawhi wherever he's at. I'd rather take a chance on Zion if possible. I also don't think Ingram would be a good a fit here. Remember, he played with Ant during Fiba and didn't seem too thrilled. Of course we're not sure on Ant's thoughts about him but he was a non factor during that whole thing. Unless it was just Kerr giving him the Tatum treatment.

[Domejandro]

While I would be open to gambling on Zion Williamson, the Second Apron rules pretty much nuke any pathway to making that happen, at least with Julius Randle.