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https://www.startribune.com/timberwolves-sachin-gupta-sees-team-as-buyers-nba-trade-deadline-postseason-play-in-tournament/600135658/

Two quotes stand out here:

Quote 1:
Gupta made his reputation in the league in part on crafting trades, but for the first time in his career, he will make the call on making a trade after taking over as head of basketball operations since the September firing of Gersson Rosas. Gupta has not been named the permanent head of basketball ops, but he will be the person in charge ahead of Feb. 10, a crucial time for the Wolves.

"For me, I'm not just looking to make a trade for the sake of it or to make a splash to put my name on it," Gupta said. "I feel really good about this team, and at this point I think we're on track to achieve the goals that we set out."

Quote 2:
Because of the Wolves' start and defensive ranking, Gupta said he would categorize them more as "buyers" at the deadline because there's an opportunity to secure a playoff spot and avoid the play-in tournament. But being a "buyer" doesn't mean shopping for a rental player who won't be in Minnesota beyond this season. Gupta said any deal the Wolves make will be geared toward improving now and over the next five years to maximize the "runway" Gupta said the Wolves have with center Karl-Anthony Towns and guards D'Angelo Russell and Anthony Edwards.

"We do see an opportunity to get up to maybe the five [seed], to work our way out of the play-in to just secure a playoff spot outright, which would be great," Gupta said. "Given that opportunity, I'd say we're more buyers. But generally I would say we're buyers over the long term."

I think these comments also should speak to the way the franchise values our own pieces. We're looking five years down the road, not just present time. For someone like 21-year old Jaden McDaniels and even 22-year old Jarred Vanderbilt, that represents different value points. These guys should continue to improve, so that factors into their respective valuations.

It might be a little tougher to throw 22-year old Naz Reid into that discussion though, due to the roster construction and contract status. Of all of the pieces here 22 years old or younger, Reid is the one who I believe is most likely to not start the 2022-23 in a Timberwolves uniform.

Good to hear!

I don’t need a major move but I’d like to see us find a way to improve the roster a bit. I think a vet 6-7th man would be great. Nowell, McD, Naz, and Beasley seem like a capable group. I could see us adding a PF or as shrink said in a post - a 3rd PG to take some wear minutes off of Bev.

Can acquiring Paul Reed, Deni Avdija or Usman Garuba be considered a long-term buy?

minimus wrote:Can acquiring Paul Reed, Deni Avdija or Usman Garuba be considered a long-term buy?

I don't know that they have built up enough league equity for an acquisition to be labeled that way.

The team definitely still needs some key pieces but I do think what we have now is good enough to make some noise, that's if we remain healthy. I don't want to mess up Vando's play time but I do think we need another big, doesn't have to be a star but we need someone who can get some quality minute.

Klomp wrote:

minimus wrote:Can acquiring Paul Reed, Deni Avdija or Usman Garuba be considered a long-term buy?

I don't know that they have built up enough league equity for an acquisition to be labeled that way.

Paul Reed has been playing well in g-league, can't crack PHI rotation. Avdija is already a very good defender (and abysmal offensive player). Garuba has potential to be a great defensive big.

I see them as potential Vando type of situations. Acquiring them now makes sense, "buy low"

minimus wrote:

Klomp wrote:

minimus wrote:Can acquiring Paul Reed, Deni Avdija or Usman Garuba be considered a long-term buy?

I don't know that they have built up enough league equity for an acquisition to be labeled that way.

Paul Reed has been playing well in g-league, can't crack PHI rotation. Avdija is already a very good defender (and abysmal offensive player). Garuba has potential to be a great defensive big.

I see them as potential Vando type of situations. Acquiring them now makes sense, "buy low"

We have a trade exemption and 3 2nd round picks. Targeting one sounds good to me.

I think the fact that Gupta/Finch went with Monroe during COVID tells you their mindset on new players. They want vets. I think if this team acquires a player(s) at the deadline, they are going to be seasoned guys. I don't see them adding any more youth, especially with six draft picks over the next two years.

NebWolvesFan wrote:I think the fact that Gupta/Finch went with Monroe during COVID tells you their mindset on new players. They want vets. I think if this team acquires a player(s) at the deadline, they are going to be seasoned guys. I don't see them adding any more youth, especially with six draft picks over the next two years.

Your half right. In a perfect world we would want some age and experience. That said, younger means cheaper, and it means longer term team control. Take Paul Reed. He probably would not be as useful this season as a Cousins or Millsap, but he is cheaper, has more upside, fits our timeline, and if he does well in our system will continue to do so for quite a while. Younger also typically means healthier and more likely available down the stretch. I think we pinch our pennies around the margins and spend our money on the impact player we eventually trade for. 1 or 2 2nds for Reed would free us up to move Naz, provide great depth, and gets us a more experienced player than anyone we draft.

NebWolvesFan wrote:I think the fact that Gupta/Finch went with Monroe during COVID tells you their mindset on new players.

It might be true that they want extra Vets on the team but I disagree with using this as proof of it.

I guess Rockets Eric Gordon and Daniel Theis - older players who aren’t expirings - aren’t being targeted. I would not be surprised if Gupta looked at backup vets for a few months like Paul Milsap or Thad Young for a 2nd, but 1st rounders are off the table for anyone who isn’t longterm. I wonder if this quote means Ben Simmons is firmly in his sights?

minimus wrote:

Klomp wrote:

minimus wrote:Can acquiring Paul Reed, Deni Avdija or Usman Garuba be considered a long-term buy?

I don't know that they have built up enough league equity for an acquisition to be labeled that way.

Paul Reed has been playing well in g-league, can't crack PHI rotation. Avdija is already a very good defender (and abysmal offensive player). Garuba has potential to be a great defensive big.

I see them as potential Vando type of situations. Acquiring them now makes sense, "buy low"

I see your interpretation now, but I didn't read his quote that way. I think it's more they want to buy on pieces that will be contributors for now and the longterm. Reed and Garuba I don't think crack the current rotation, so I'm not sure they'd be a buy at present.

Less Vando and more Beasley. I see a similar line of thinking as Rosas had. I think RFAs will be targeted. Team control is important.

NebWolvesFan wrote:I think the fact that Gupta/Finch went with Monroe during COVID tells you their mindset on new players. They want vets. I think if this team acquires a player(s) at the deadline, they are going to be seasoned guys. I don't see them adding any more youth, especially with six draft picks over the next two years.

I see it more on the mindset of free agency, especially during the season and mid-outbreak. Plug holes.

Klomp wrote:

minimus wrote:

Klomp wrote:I don't know that they have built up enough league equity for an acquisition to be labeled that way.

Paul Reed has been playing well in g-league, can't crack PHI rotation. Avdija is already a very good defender (and abysmal offensive player). Garuba has potential to be a great defensive big.

I see them as potential Vando type of situations. Acquiring them now makes sense, "buy low"

I see your interpretation now, but I didn't read his quote that way. I think it's more they want to buy on pieces that will be contributors for now and the longterm. Reed and Garuba I don't think crack the current rotation, so I'm not sure they'd be a buy at present.

Less Vando and more Beasley. I see a similar line of thinking as Rosas had. I think RFAs will be targeted. Team control is important.

I want to say it again, until it becomes a reality. I think we need to look at "buyers over the long term" and look at possibly the most important trade of the last 5 years here.

To me, "buyers over the long term" represents that 3-team trade perfectly. We essentially traded someone in Covington who was a talented player but maybe not in the best role for him to shine. In return, we got young guys who maybe were shots in the dark for a lot of fans, but they represented guys who were underused in their prior situations and had a chance to grow here. Most importantly, we had team control on all of them while exchanging longterm money on an older guy for an expiring in the process.

Now one thing I will add that counters this line of thinking is that we are not in the same place as a franchise as we were two years ago (that team was 15-34 at the time of the trade). Do we still want to make that type of trade when we are in contention for the playoffs?

Another angle I'd like to explore though from that trade is younger vets guys who are buried on deep veteran teams or teams that don't play young guys. That I think is where we can possibly find good value, like we did with Beasley and even Hernangomez while he was here. For example, I wouldn't totally rule out New York trading Cam Reddish. The two young guys in Boston would fit this mold as well.