Re: Mavericks Offered Luka Doncic To Timberwolves For Anthony Edwards

[RealGM Wiretap]

Before Luka Doncic was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, discussions were had to send him to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Dallas Mavericks and Timberwolves had informal trade talks that centered around a swap of Doncic for Wolves star Anthony Edwards.

Dallas reportedly reached out to see if Minnesota would be willing to trade Edwards. While the Timberwolves told Nico Harrison that Edwards was off limits, the team was reportedly stunned to find out Doncic was available.

The Mavericks ultimately traded Doncic to the Lakers for a package centered around Anthony Davis.

Via Sam Amick/The Athletic

[shrink]

Doncic is the better player and while Ant still has so much untapped potential, it is very possible he never reaches Luka’s high bar. But this was still the right choice for MIN.

The key thing for the Wolves is that Ant wants to be there. When he signed his 5-year extension, he didn’t ask for the typical player option the final year. Obviously if he asked, the Wolves wouldn’t have said no.

“Wanting to be there” is a big deal for a franchise like MIN. Until the last couple years, the best free agents didn’t want to come to MIN, and MIN often had to overpay even mediocre FA’s to come. Attitudes sometimes suffered here. Players leaving for nothing at the end of their contracts was always a threat. Recently though we have seen a change. Naz Reid avoided free agency to extend, and took a team friendly deal. Gobert declined a rich player option to extend for less. NAW took an under-market deal. Ant and Jaden McDaniels extended for the full five years, no PO.

The problem with the Luka offer was that Nico Harrison refused to let teams talk to Doncic to see if he wanted to stay, because he was afraid of the news of a trade getting out. According to ESPN, the original offer included both Laker picks, LAL agreed but wanted to talk to Luka first to see if he wanted to be a Laker. When Nico refused, LAL said we need to keep a pick for protection.

The Timberwolves franchise is not the glamour franchise that the Lakers are. Trading away five years of a locked up, happy Ant for 1.5 of Luka with the desperate hope he would want to stay was too great a risk. The downside would be a franchise-killing move, so they had to decline.

[Effigy]

Didn't Nico say he spoke to no one except the Lakers?

[dirkdiggler4177]

Didn't Nico say he spoke to no one except the Lakers?

I don't remember if he said it himself, but very early, we heard he had talked to one other team. So there was always another team, but nobody knew who it was.

[Accurim]

sounds like another PR cover up.

[hyberx]

Isn't there a report out weeks ago that they offered Luka to the Wolves and also the Bucks for Giannis too? AD was their fall back plan.

[puja21]

Doncic is the better player and while Ant still has so much untapped potential, it is very possible he never reaches Luka’s high bar. But this was still the right choice for MIN.

The key thing for the Wolves is that Ant wants to be there. When he signed his 5-year extension, he didn’t ask for the typical player option the final year. Obviously if he asked, the Wolves wouldn’t have said no.

“Wanting to be there” is a big deal for a franchise like MIN. Until the last couple years, the best free agents didn’t want to come to MIN, and MIN often had to overpay even mediocre FA’s to come. Attitudes sometimes suffered here. Players leaving for nothing at the end of their contracts was always a threat. Recently though we have seen a change. Naz Reid avoided free agency to extend, and took a team friendly deal. Gobert declined a rich player option to extend for less. NAW took an under-market deal. Ant and Jaden McDaniels extended for the full five years, no PO.

The problem with the Luka offer was that Nico Harrison refused to let teams talk to Doncic to see if he wanted to stay, because he was afraid of the news of a trade getting out. According to ESPN, the original offer included both Laker picks, LAL agreed but wanted to talk to Luka first to see if he wanted to be a Laker. When Nico refused, LAL said we need to keep a pick for protection.

The Timberwolves franchise is not the glamour franchise that the Lakers are. Trading away five years of a locked up, happy Ant for 1.5 of Luka with the desperate hope he would want to stay was too great a risk. The downside would be a franchise-killing move, so they had to decline.

Edwards is age 23 with 4 seasons of team control after this year.

Doncic is 26 and has 1 + PO remaining

No brainer for Minnesota to reject that offer

[madmaxmedia]

Isn't there a report out weeks ago that they offered Luka to the Wolves and also the Bucks for Giannis too? AD was their fall back plan.

Nico called me before ASB and offered Luka for my VW Golf.

[Rip32]

This the funniest sh?t ever

[Vegeta10176]

Easy no.. Edwards wants to be there and Doncic is better but same sort of age and who knows what he wants.. Thanks but not thanks.. And attached to dan base too.. I can imagine being a massive Edwards fan in minny