Tough Poll for 2025 Trade Deadline

[shrink]

While this might not be the actual situation, imagine ownership tells Connelly in February that he needs to clear about $40-50 mil in payroll for 2025. If you had to choose one option, which one would you prefer?

[cmoss84]

Not only do I prefer KAT, I think a deal actually gets done soon.

[FrenchMinnyFan]

I will go for Rudy. I like him and he is a fantastic defender. But his offense is way to weak and his limitations will always be a problem when PO come.

[Klomp]

The reason I tend to lean Rudy more recently is that he is the least similar to the core identity of this team.

"But Klomp...isn't the core identity of this team on defense?!?!"

Why yes, yes it is. HOWEVER, I think that's painting the team with too broad of a brush. When you look closer, I think versatility and switchability are just as, if not more important. Additionally, I would argue that the team is overall transitioning to a group of skilled bigs. And that's where I somewhat struggle to see his fit longterm, especially when you consider his age and contract status.

"But Klomp...you will never get a trade return that equals what we traded for him"

No we won't. But I'd argue that's not necessarily important. Because part of his value isn't only as a trade asset, but the commodity he was while he was in a Timberwolves uniform. I'd argue that makes up for any deficiency in trade value.

[minimus]

I vote Towns, only because I am scared of his injuries. He was an Ironman at the beginning of NBA career, but his last non contact injury scares me.

[shrink]

I’m an unpopular voter for Naz and NAW. Tough call for me because I probably like Naz the most of all four players.

My reasoning is strictly trying to think like a GM. Teams get better in trades by sending players to places where they have more value, and are willing to give up the most. Here, it’s hard for me to think of teams where either Gobert or Towns have substantially more value than they do here. However, we would be trading not just Naz and NAW for this year, but their Bird rights for new contracts in the future - a valuable commodity that most teams would really want. We’d be trading away one year of Naz, and a team would pay us for four years, if they think they could re-sign him, so he has more value elsewhere. Selling assets your team has developed for a profit is a way to continue to pump value into your team.

Now there is a lot of reason for me to doubt that choice, besides just my preferences. First, Ant’s preferences matter, and I think he really likes Naz and KAT. Second, their are the fans’ preference - still need to sell those ticket! Third, while Naz is a significantly worse players than Towns or Gobert (not a good rebounder or defender), Naz gets significantly better every summer he comes back here. I don’t want to put a ceiling on him, but becoming as good as Gobert or Towns is highly unlikely.

Finally, we have a legitimate championship window right now. We will likely pay the tax this year if we have a good chance at a ring, keeping them all, then losing Naz and probably NAW in free agency next summer. We have the chance this year to bring back our top seven players, which is a huge advantage to have playoff-caliber depth. KAT and Gobert are true star talents that want to be here, and contribute more towards a championship than Naz, at least for the next 1-3 years.

I know I made the poll, but it was a hard one for me to make a vote. I don’t see us having Gobert, KAT and Naz next year, and burying opponents with quality size is one of our biggest advantages, so ..

Watch on YouTube

[minimus]

By getting Gobert MIN created a redundancy at C and PF position, because Towns was not able to anchor defense as C. My hope is that either Towns or Reid will get enough experience playing competent defense next to Gobert. Towns and Reid exceeded expectations as defenders in series against PHO and DEN, but In DAL series all three were exposed. But overall I see it as positive situation, where Gobert, Towns and Reid had successful season: Gobert won 4th DPOY, Reid is reigning 6th man, Towns returned from injury and MIN had deep playoff run. So we might have even more redundancy at C and PF.

P.S. Another big thing is that TC added Rob and TJ. If Rob develops into starting PG next season then we can use same trick to create redundancy at PG position: we added Gobert because Towns and Reid weaknesses as defenders, we can add another comboguard to protect Rob while he is developing his body. One example of such trade is to trade Towns for a package around Suggs, Johnathan Isaac, Da Silva. Isaac would compliment Reid as defender, while Suggs will take care of opponent PGs

[winforlose]

My long answer got killed by refresh. You should add both to the poll. You have Dilly, Ant, MCD, Naz, NAW, TJ, and maybe some talent in Miller or Minott when given a chance. Trade Karl and Rudy and use Ant’s star power to bring in talent.

[Klomp]

I’m an unpopular voter for Naz and NAW. Tough call for me because I probably like Naz the most of all four players.

My reasoning is strictly trying to think like a GM. Teams get better in trades by sending players to places where they have more value, and are willing to give up the most. Here, it’s hard for me to think of teams where either Gobert or Towns have substantially more value than they do here. However, we would be trading not just Naz and NAW for this year, but their Bird rights for new contracts in the future - a valuable commodity that most teams would really want. We’d be trading away one year of Naz, and a team would pay us for four years, if they think they could re-sign him, so he has more value elsewhere. Selling assets your team has developed for a profit is a way to continue to pump value into your team.

Now there is a lot of reason for me to doubt that choice, besides just my preferences. First, Ant’s preferences matter, and I think he really likes Naz and KAT. Second, their are the fans’ preference - still need to sell those ticket! Third, while Naz is a significantly worse players than Towns or Gobert (not a good rebounder or defender), Naz gets significantly better every summer he comes back here. I don’t want to put a ceiling on him, but becoming as good as Gobert or Towns is highly unlikely.

Finally, we have a legitimate championship window right now. We will likely pay the tax this year if we have a good chance at a ring, keeping them all, then losing Naz and probably NAW in free agency next summer. We have the chance this year to bring back our top seven players, which is a huge advantage to have playoff-caliber depth. KAT and Gobert are true star talents that want to be here, and contribute more towards a championship than Naz, at least for the next 1-3 years.

I know I made the poll, but it was a hard one for me to make a vote. I don’t see us having Gobert, KAT and Naz next year, and burying opponents with quality size is one of our biggest advantages, so ..

I will update my previous post to say I didn't realize you were talking about something happening at the trade deadline. Of the options, yes I believe this is the most realistic if something were to happen at the deadline as opposed to after the season.

[Folklore]

I’m an unpopular voter for Naz and NAW. Tough call for me because I probably like Naz the most of all four players.

My reasoning is strictly trying to think like a GM. Teams get better in trades by sending players to places where they have more value, and are willing to give up the most. Here, it’s hard for me to think of teams where either Gobert or Towns have substantially more value than they do here. However, we would be trading not just Naz and NAW for this year, but their Bird rights for new contracts in the future - a valuable commodity that most teams would really want. We’d be trading away one year of Naz, and a team would pay us for four years, if they think they could re-sign him, so he has more value elsewhere. Selling assets your team has developed for a profit is a way to continue to pump value into your team.

Teams would give up a lot for a player who's locked in to a good long term deal instead of a rental. I don't think the market for either Towns or Gobert is as thin as you think it is. the issue is that we have both of them playing together. You don't think that Golden State wouldn't want KAT? Or Milwaukee wouldn't want a real C?

Now there is a lot of reason for me to doubt that choice, besides just my preferences. First, Ant’s preferences matter, and I think he really likes Naz and KAT. Second, their are the fans’ preference - still need to sell those ticket! Third, while Naz is a significantly worse players than Towns or Gobert (not a good rebounder or defender), Naz gets significantly better every summer he comes back here. I don’t want to put a ceiling on him, but becoming as good as Gobert or Towns is highly unlikely.

Getting Gobert was to cover Kats weakness but at the same time exposed others he has. I feel that a GM today would be an idiot to ignore what Ant wants from now on. I also believe that Kat isn't significantly better than Naz, Naz is closer to Kat than you think. There's more to a player than stats. Kat is a moral killer, in games, to prove that he's no fouling, instead of being in more control he holds his hands up and away from the player the whole play just to show the refs "see, I'm not touching him" He's just too dramatic and fouls out too much. and now that his body is tearing down there's no way I'd keep him over Naz.

Finally, we have a legitimate championship window right now. We will likely pay the tax this year if we have a good chance at a ring, keeping them all, then losing Naz and probably NAW in free agency next summer. We have the chance this year to bring back our top seven players, which is a huge advantage to have playoff-caliber depth. KAT and Gobert are true star talents that want to be here, and contribute more towards a championship than Naz, at least for the next 1-3 years.

We've gone as far as last years team is going to take us. We did not get significantly better. And who's shoed taht they want to be here more than Naz? Kat just talks a lot and maybe Gobert thinks that way because we've brought his old mates to the team and we want him to not take the player option (but maybe I'm wrong. All 4 players had big impacts on getting as far as we got. But two are younger and wont cost as much and are on the same timeline as Ant.

[winforlose]

I’m an unpopular voter for Naz and NAW. Tough call for me because I probably like Naz the most of all four players.

My reasoning is strictly trying to think like a GM. Teams get better in trades by sending players to places where they have more value, and are willing to give up the most. Here, it’s hard for me to think of teams where either Gobert or Towns have substantially more value than they do here. However, we would be trading not just Naz and NAW for this year, but their Bird rights for new contracts in the future - a valuable commodity that most teams would really want. We’d be trading away one year of Naz, and a team would pay us for four years, if they think they could re-sign him, so he has more value elsewhere. Selling assets your team has developed for a profit is a way to continue to pump value into your team.

Teams would give up a lot for a player who's locked in to a good long term deal instead of a rental. I don't think the market for either Towns or Gobert is as thin as you think it is. the issue is that we have both of them playing together. You don't think that Golden State wouldn't want KAT? Or Milwaukee wouldn't want a real C?

Now there is a lot of reason for me to doubt that choice, besides just my preferences. First, Ant’s preferences matter, and I think he really likes Naz and KAT. Second, their are the fans’ preference - still need to sell those ticket! Third, while Naz is a significantly worse players than Towns or Gobert (not a good rebounder or defender), Naz gets significantly better every summer he comes back here. I don’t want to put a ceiling on him, but becoming as good as Gobert or Towns is highly unlikely.

Getting Gobert was to cover Kats weakness but at the same time exposed others he has. I feel that a GM today would be an idiot to ignore what Ant wants from now on. I also believe that Kat isn't significantly better than Naz, Naz is closer to Kat than you think. There's more to a player than stats. Kat is a moral killer, in games, to prove that he's no fouling, instead of being in more control he holds his hands up and away from the player the whole play just to show the refs "see, I'm not touching him" He's just too dramatic and fouls out too much. and now that his body is tearing down there's no way I'd keep him over Naz.

Finally, we have a legitimate championship window right now. We will likely pay the tax this year if we have a good chance at a ring, keeping them all, then losing Naz and probably NAW in free agency next summer. We have the chance this year to bring back our top seven players, which is a huge advantage to have playoff-caliber depth. KAT and Gobert are true star talents that want to be here, and contribute more towards a championship than Naz, at least for the next 1-3 years.

We've gone as far as last years team is going to take us. We did not get significantly better. And who's shoed taht they want to be here more than Naz? Kat just talks a lot and maybe Gobert thinks that way because we've brought his old mates to the team and we want him to not take the player option (but maybe I'm wrong. All 4 players had big impacts on getting as far as we got. But two are younger and wont cost as much and are on the same timeline as Ant.

If you can get a good return for both Rudy and Karl and build a roster around Ant, Jaden, Naz, etc… you get a real chance at a dynasty. You need a couple blue chips and some picks to help either draft or trade for the other support pieces. You also must assume we could get a max player in free agency to play with Ant. This might actually happen in 2-3 years.

[Dewey]

Both are overpaid .. No doubt Connelly is “ears wide open” to all serious offers. Kat would be the first choice for me.

First, Kat will never lead this team to a championship … he has not even shown he can raise his game in the playoffs. Talented, but he’s a mental midget.

Secondly, Gobert is just too one-dimensional. He’s $6-7 million a year less and 1-2 years less on contract.

[shrink]

I’m an unpopular voter for Naz and NAW. Tough call for me because I probably like Naz the most of all four players.

My reasoning is strictly trying to think like a GM. Teams get better in trades by sending players to places where they have more value, and are willing to give up the most. Here, it’s hard for me to think of teams where either Gobert or Towns have substantially more value than they do here. However, we would be trading not just Naz and NAW for this year, but their Bird rights for new contracts in the future - a valuable commodity that most teams would really want. We’d be trading away one year of Naz, and a team would pay us for four years, if they think they could re-sign him, so he has more value elsewhere. Selling assets your team has developed for a profit is a way to continue to pump value into your team.

Teams would give up a lot for a player who's locked in to a good long term deal instead of a rental. I don't think the market for either Towns or Gobert is as thin as you think it is. the issue is that we have both of them playing together. You don't think that Golden State wouldn't want KAT? Or Milwaukee wouldn't want a real C?

Now there is a lot of reason for me to doubt that choice, besides just my preferences. First, Ant’s preferences matter, and I think he really likes Naz and KAT. Second, their are the fans’ preference - still need to sell those ticket! Third, while Naz is a significantly worse players than Towns or Gobert (not a good rebounder or defender), Naz gets significantly better every summer he comes back here. I don’t want to put a ceiling on him, but becoming as good as Gobert or Towns is highly unlikely.

Getting Gobert was to cover Kats weakness but at the same time exposed others he has. I feel that a GM today would be an idiot to ignore what Ant wants from now on. I also believe that Kat isn't significantly better than Naz, Naz is closer to Kat than you think. There's more to a player than stats. Kat is a morale killer, in games, to prove that he's no fouling, instead of being in more control he holds his hands up and away from the player the whole play just to show the refs "see, I'm not touching him" He's just too dramatic and fouls out too much. and now that his body is tearing down there's no way I'd keep him over Naz.

How do you believe that teams would give us a lot in trade for KAT, and then simultaneously believe he has all these major flaws?

[shrink]

If you can get a good return for both Rudy and Karl and build a roster around Ant, Jaden, Naz, etc… you get a real chance at a dynasty. You need a couple blue chips and some picks to help either draft or trade for the other support pieces.

I agree, but what good returns could you see? I’d love to discuss the specifics of realistic deals.

When I’m trying to think about prospective partners, the economist in me looks at teams that need a player more than we do, because those are the ones who can afford to pay the most. The problem is that while we remain a championship contender, we really need these guys too. They are star players, and consolidate our win-now on the floor when we couldn’t play three “good, but maybe unready” players. It also matters that they want to be here - players of this quality have historically rejected us, even when we had KG, who was an actual MVP.

You also must assume we could get a max player in free agency to play with Ant. This might actually happen in 2-3 years.

I can’t assume that we could go from so far over the lux, to so far under the cap to have max space. It is rare to see this in any contenders. Moreover, Connelly has never shown he has been willing to cut his payroll, and doesn’t use fee agency - he maxes his own players. And even if we had max cap space, again, free agents have never wanted to come here. I think trading is the most realistic pathway.

[Folklore]

I’m an unpopular voter for Naz and NAW. Tough call for me because I probably like Naz the most of all four players.

My reasoning is strictly trying to think like a GM. Teams get better in trades by sending players to places where they have more value, and are willing to give up the most. Here, it’s hard for me to think of teams where either Gobert or Towns have substantially more value than they do here. However, we would be trading not just Naz and NAW for this year, but their Bird rights for new contracts in the future - a valuable commodity that most teams would really want. We’d be trading away one year of Naz, and a team would pay us for four years, if they think they could re-sign him, so he has more value elsewhere. Selling assets your team has developed for a profit is a way to continue to pump value into your team.

Teams would give up a lot for a player who's locked in to a good long term deal instead of a rental. I don't think the market for either Towns or Gobert is as thin as you think it is. the issue is that we have both of them playing together. You don't think that Golden State wouldn't want KAT? Or Milwaukee wouldn't want a real C?

Now there is a lot of reason for me to doubt that choice, besides just my preferences. First, Ant’s preferences matter, and I think he really likes Naz and KAT. Second, their are the fans’ preference - still need to sell those ticket! Third, while Naz is a significantly worse players than Towns or Gobert (not a good rebounder or defender), Naz gets significantly better every summer he comes back here. I don’t want to put a ceiling on him, but becoming as good as Gobert or Towns is highly unlikely.

Getting Gobert was to cover Kats weakness but at the same time exposed others he has. I feel that a GM today would be an idiot to ignore what Ant wants from now on. I also believe that Kat isn't significantly better than Naz, Naz is closer to Kat than you think. There's more to a player than stats. Kat is a morale killer, in games, to prove that he's no fouling, instead of being in more control he holds his hands up and away from the player the whole play just to show the refs "see, I'm not touching him" He's just too dramatic and fouls out too much. and now that his body is tearing down there's no way I'd keep him over Naz.

How do you believe that teams would give us a lot in trade for KAT, and then simultaneously believe he has all these major flaws?

He's a talented scorer but he's a C not a PF. Like I said, the problem is having him playing with Rudy. Kat at C and playing with someone like Bam or Naz would be ideal. Just because he's not working for us doesn't mean he can't elsewhere. Sometimes teams just want to sell tickets. Or they even may think that they have a better Center or PF to pair with Kat. Like sending him to the Nets.

[Folklore]

If you can get a good return for both Rudy and Karl and build a roster around Ant, Jaden, Naz, etc… you get a real chance at a dynasty. You need a couple blue chips and some picks to help either draft or trade for the other support pieces.

I agree, but what good returns could you see? I’d love to discuss the specifics of realistic deals.

When I’m trying to think about prospective partners, the economist in me looks at teams that need a player more than we do, because those are the ones who can afford to pay the most. The problem is that while we remain a championship contender, we really need these guys too. They are star players, and consolidate our win-now on the floor when we couldn’t play three “good, but maybe unready” players. It also matters that they want to be here - players of this quality have historically rejected us, even when we had KG, who was an actual MVP.

You also must assume we could get a max player in free agency to play with Ant. This might actually happen in 2-3 years.

I can’t assume that we could go from so far over the lux, to so far under the cap to have max space. It is rare to see this in any contenders. Moreover, Connelly has never shown he has been willing to cut his payroll, and doesn’t use fee agency - he maxes his own players. And even if we had max cap space, again, free agents have never wanted to come here. I think trading is the most realistic pathway.

Sometimes you have to know when to fold em. Rudy and Kat wont get better.

[winforlose]

If you can get a good return for both Rudy and Karl and build a roster around Ant, Jaden, Naz, etc… you get a real chance at a dynasty. You need a couple blue chips and some picks to help either draft or trade for the other support pieces.

I agree, but what good returns could you see? I’d love to discuss the specifics of realistic deals.

When I’m trying to think about prospective partners, the economist in me looks at teams that need a player more than we do, because those are the ones who can afford to pay the most. The problem is that while we remain a championship contender, we really need these guys too. They are star players, and consolidate our win-now on the floor when we couldn’t play three “good, but maybe unready” players. It also matters that they want to be here - players of this quality have historically rejected us, even when we had KG, who was an actual MVP.

You also must assume we could get a max player in free agency to play with Ant. This might actually happen in 2-3 years.

I can’t assume that we could go from so far over the lux, to so far under the cap to have max space. It is rare to see this in any contenders. Moreover, Connelly has never shown he has been willing to cut his payroll, and doesn’t use fee agency - he maxes his own players. And even if we had max cap space, again, free agents have never wanted to come here. I think trading is the most realistic pathway.

I have no idea when the trade is occurring and what the market looks like at that point. both Rudy and Karl could have inflated or deflated value based on who needs what and when things are happening.

As for the free agent point, Ant is such a big name that he has a legit chance of bringing someone in. Especially if we look like a franchise with its act together.

[shrink]

Teams would give up a lot for a player who's locked in to a good long term deal instead of a rental. I don't think the market for either Towns or Gobert is as thin as you think it is. the issue is that we have both of them playing together. You don't think that Golden State wouldn't want KAT? Or Milwaukee wouldn't want a real C?



Getting Gobert was to cover Kats weakness but at the same time exposed others he has. I feel that a GM today would be an idiot to ignore what Ant wants from now on. I also believe that Kat isn't significantly better than Naz, Naz is closer to Kat than you think. There's more to a player than stats. Kat is a morale killer, in games, to prove that he's no fouling, instead of being in more control he holds his hands up and away from the player the whole play just to show the refs "see, I'm not touching him" He's just too dramatic and fouls out too much. and now that his body is tearing down there's no way I'd keep him over Naz.

How do you believe that teams would give us a lot in trade for KAT, and then simultaneously believe he has all these major flaws?

He's a talented scorer but he's a C not a PF. Like I said, the problem is having him playing with Rudy. Kat at C and playing with someone like Bam or Naz would be ideal. Just because he's not working for us doesn't mean he can't elsewhere. Sometimes teams just want to sell tickets. Or they even may think that they have a better Center or PF to pair with Kat. Like sending him to the Nets.

Because the Nets want a “morale killer,” who’s “too dramatic,” and who “fouls out too much,” and someone who’s “body is breaking down?”

[shrink]

If you can get a good return for both Rudy and Karl and build a roster around Ant, Jaden, Naz, etc… you get a real chance at a dynasty. You need a couple blue chips and some picks to help either draft or trade for the other support pieces.

I agree, but what good returns could you see? I’d love to discuss the specifics of realistic deals.

When I’m trying to think about prospective partners, the economist in me looks at teams that need a player more than we do, because those are the ones who can afford to pay the most. The problem is that while we remain a championship contender, we really need these guys too. They are star players, and consolidate our win-now on the floor when we couldn’t play three “good, but maybe unready” players. It also matters that they want to be here - players of this quality have historically rejected us, even when we had KG, who was an actual MVP.

I have no idea when the trade is occurring and what the market looks like at that point. both Rudy and Karl could have inflated or deflated value based on who needs what and when things are happening.

I feel like we’re missing each other’s points, so I’ll try to re-state.

I’m not really talking about whether either player raises or lowers his value in the future. I’m trying to focus on teams where Rudy or KAT is a better fit than here, because those teams would pay the most in trade. Two years ago, we thought that would be easy, since they have both been All NBA at the same position. However, Finch has shown he can make it work. But the problem is that if we trade KAT, then we need to put a very offensive PF on the floor who is a great three point shooter to keep the floor spread offensively for Ant. Like KAT. And if we trade Gobert, we need a great defensive center that can provide rim-protection to maintain our defensive identity. We’d need a guy like Gobert.

I’m not saying it’s impossible to find a team that needs each one more than us, but by trading either one, we create a very big hole, and a hole we’d want to fill immediately to remain a championship contender. That makes the delta in profit small, so we need a team that will pay, or overpay, for either one. But the specifics is more a question for our Trade thread.

[WolfAddict]

"Morale Killer"