Butler has requested a trade (Part II)

[AirP.]

I think they're pretty good friends. Hassan posted on his spapchat last year KAT having dinner at his house after a game. Unless you meant the on court/position fit.

Towns follows him on instagram.

Well then I’m sure he’d be happy to have him come here to play center then.

MIN’s future is 100% incumbent on Towns, growing and remaining happy here. Why risk it?

He signed the max, he'd have to sit out or fake injuries for 5 years to get out, that isn't happening.

[shrink]

Towns follows him on instagram.

Well then I’m sure he’d be happy to have him come here to play center then.

MIN’s future is 100% incumbent on Towns, growing and remaining happy here. Why risk it?

He signed the max, he'd have to sit out or fake injuries for 5 years to get out, that isn't happening.

If he goes to the press tomorrow, and says he’s not happy in MIN, that ain’t good. He doesn’t have to fake injuries for 5 years (anyone remember Vince Carter tanking his value?).

And before we hear the “he’s too loyal,” remember that he wasn’t going to sign an extension here until he discussed things with management.

[Worm Guts]

Well then I’m sure he’d be happy to have him come here to play center then.

MIN’s future is 100% incumbent on Towns, growing and remaining happy here. Why risk it?

He signed the max, he'd have to sit out or fake injuries for 5 years to get out, that isn't happening.

If he goes to the press tomorrow, and says he’s not happy in MIN, that ain’t good. He doesn’t have to fake injuries for 5 years (anyone remember Vince Carter tanking his value?).

And before we hear the “he’s too loyal,” remember that he wasn’t going to sign an extension here until he discussed things with management.

It isn't good, but it would seem to be an extreme reaction to something he seems to have no apparent reason to have an extreme reaction about.

[AirP.]

If he goes to the press tomorrow, and says he’s not happy in MIN, that ain’t good. He doesn’t have to fake injuries for 5 years (anyone remember Vince Carter tanking his value?).

And before we hear the “he’s too loyal,” remember that he wasn’t going to sign an extension here until he discussed things with management.

At that point, put a muzzle on Taylor and let Thibs just say do your job, you literally have years to change his mind. It's the same thing that should have been done with Butler.

[shrink]

Bringing in a center like Whiteside is worth risking this? Even if the risk is small?

You guys going on the record with that, and the “force him to do his job, who cares if it makes him unhappy here,” strategy?

[Worm Guts]

Bringing in a center like Whiteside is worth risking this? Even if the risk is small?

You guys going on the record with that, and the “force him to do his job,” strategy?

Why is there any risk?

[D1SGRUNTL3D]

Well then I’m sure he’d be happy to have him come here to play center then.

MIN’s future is 100% incumbent on Towns, growing and remaining happy here. Why risk it?

He signed the max, he'd have to sit out or fake injuries for 5 years to get out, that isn't happening.

If he goes to the press tomorrow, and says he’s not happy in MIN, that ain’t good. He doesn’t have to fake injuries for 5 years (anyone remember Vince Carter tanking his value?).

And before we hear the “he’s too loyal,” remember that he wasn’t going to sign an extension here until he discussed things with management.

I think youre wayyy overthinking this KAT thing

[shrink]

I just dont get why Riley wouldn't deal Richardson to get Butler

Sadly, fans and front offices seem to consistently overvalue their best overall player, and their best young player.

In the grand scheme of things though, neither Richardson or Bam have that much value compared to the truly good players in the nba, or the truly star-level prospects. The market has spoken, with the most Richardson could get was a non-star contract, and 13 teams passing on Bam when he was drafted. They may increase their value, but these are not even stars, in a deal for a superstar.

In the end, I would be surprised if Riley wouldn’t include Richardson.

We see this same thing, with an “untouchable” Shay Gilgeous-Alexander (drafted 12th), “untouchable” Caris Levert (drafted 20th), and “untouchable” OG Anunoby (drafted 23rd). The promise that they have shown has fans of that team believe that each one is a potential superstar.

Now it’s “untouchable” Bam Adebayo (drafted 14th), who is seen as a future star by fans, who have no better person on their team to put their hopes and dreams in.

[Calinks]

Shrink we don't know how Towns feels about this for sure. He may be clued in to whats going and he may have given his ok. Hopefully the front office is aware there may be some concerns and they have talked to him about it. Its also not a given that KAT will be pissed. He may enjoy playing with Whiteside. I do think your concerns are legitimate but again we don't know for sure if that will be an issue at all.

[shrink]

Regarding KAT, I think it’s comforting for fans to believe we have control of our superstars, whether they are happy here or not. We want to believe that guaranteed contracts protect us all from the star’s desires. However, true star talent in the NBA will always be appeased.

Front offices need to keep their stars happy. Their image to other players is crucial if they want to be able to attract free agents, so they need to show that they will listen, and try to help them with their career. Unhappy stars find their ways off of teams. That’s just the way the NBA is.

[shrink]

Shrink we don't know how Towns feels about this for sure. He may be clued in to whats going and he may have given his ok. Hopefully the front office is aware there may be some concerns and they have talked to him about it. Its also not a given that KAT will be pissed. He may enjoy playing with Whiteside. I do think your concerns are legitimate but again we don't know for sure if that will be an issue at all.

I think that’s fair, and why I phrased my quotes the way I did. We don’t know the risk. They would need Towns OK with being moved out of the center position before they could make this trade. Remember what a big deal it was when they Thibs fires his personal trainer without consulting him? I hope they’ve learned their lesson - this is the way the NBA works now.

[Calinks]

Shrink we don't know how Towns feels about this for sure. He may be clued in to whats going and he may have given his ok. Hopefully the front office is aware there may be some concerns and they have talked to him about it. Its also not a given that KAT will be pissed. He may enjoy playing with Whiteside. I do think your concerns are legitimate but again we don't know for sure if that will be an issue at all.

I think that’s fair. They would need Towns OK with being moved out of the center position before they could make this trade. Remember what a big deal it was when they Thibs fires his personal trainer without consulting him? I hope they’ve learned their lesson - this is the way the NBA works now.

Good point. If anything there seems to be an early indication that Thibs is trying to make some changes. (Large emphasis on switching during practice, sitting all pre-season game long and not screaming, playing the rookies though that could be chalked up to pre-season). Hopefully that has extended to communication and KAT is keyed in to the possible deals and that they mean. If not, then the ball is being dropped once again by the front office. If they intend to push KAT out at center, they should let him know. I am with ya there.

[Worm Guts]

Has KAT ever expressed any real preference at playing C over PF?

[jscott]

I think they're pretty good friends. Hassan posted on his spapchat last year KAT having dinner at his house after a game. Unless you meant the on court/position fit.

Towns follows him on instagram.

Well then I’m sure he’d be happy to have him come here to play center then.

MIN’s future is 100% incumbent on Towns, growing and remaining happy here. Why risk it?

Not going as far to say I want Whiteside on the Wolves but maybe bringing in someone Towns likes will keep him happy long term?

I could definitely be wrong but... maybe?

[Worm Guts]

I just don’t understand what would make Towns not want to play with Whiteside. No one wants to go out of their way to alienate Towns. I just have a hard time believing he wouldn’t be willing to play PF if it were for the good of the team.

[KGdaBom]

Has KAT ever expressed any real preference at playing C over PF?

I'm pretty sure he has. I wouldn't bet my life on it though.

[K4P]

What is the difference between Center and Power Forward?
I don't see the major issue with Towns playing the 4.
Wasn't his issue being a poor interior defender?
I'm sure Whiteside would help with that

[MN7725]

I just don’t understand what would make Towns not want to play with Whiteside. No one wants to go out of their way to alienate Towns. I just have a hard time believing he wouldn’t be willing to play PF if it were for the good of the team.

How would it be any different for KAT than playing with Dieng in 2015-16 and 2016-17?

KAT was the one guarding the opposing "PF" in almost every matchup

[big3_8_19_21]

I just dont get why Riley wouldn't deal Richardson to get Butler

Sadly, fans and front offices seem to consistently overvalue their best overall player, and their best young player.

In the grand scheme of things though, neither Richardson or Bam have that much value compared to the truly good players in the nba, or the truly star-level prospects. The market has spoken, with the most Richardson could get was a non-star contract, and 13 teams passing on Bam when he was drafted. They may increase their value, but these are not even stars, in a deal for a superstar.

In the end, I would be surprised if Riley wouldn’t include Richardson.

We see this same thing, with an “untouchable” Shay Gilgeous-Alexander (drafted 12th), “untouchable” Caris Levert (drafted 20th), and “untouchable” OG Anunoby (drafted 23rd). The promise that they have shown has fans of that team believe that each one is a potential superstar.

Now it’s “untouchable” Bam Adebayo (drafted 14th), who is seen as a future star by fans, who have no better person on their team to put their hopes and dreams in.

If they’re young and do one thing at an NBA level, their fan base thinks their untouchable. Little do they know, no one on earth has more experience with this fallacy than a Timberwolves fan.

[shrink]

Has KAT ever expressed any real preference at playing C over PF?

He sees himself as a center. I remember him making some impassioned plea in defense of centers when the All Star Game considered voting for three bigs, rather than two bigs and a center.