Klomp wrote:HOWEVER...This is where the Russell piece becomes more interesting. Because of his higher price tag, the likeliest outcome is to split him up into smaller salary pieces. However, we also have roster constraints to worry about, which is why dirt-cheap pieces like Nowell and Reid become more useful. I don't believe either of them get moved on their own. Value-wise I'd say maybe if someone offers a 1st, but then you're essentially selling as a team chasing the playoffs, which doesn't make sense.
Good post, and I agree that trading the rejuvenated Russell is the avenue that is the most interesting.
I know you know this Klomp, but for those that haven’t heard it before, trading Russell before he expires allows MIN to maintain the salary slot. If Russell expires and signs elsewhere, we don’t get $30 mil in cap space to find a replacement, as I hear occasionally elsewhere. Even if our payroll reduces by $30 mil, cap space is literally the space a team has under the salary cap, and since our payroll is well above that, losing DLo doesn’t create cap space to replace him. The most we could offer would be our mid-level exception, starting at about $12 mil, and starting PG’s usually get better deals than that. Even a trade which doesn’t quite bring back enough value might make sense for next year for flexibility.
Regarding roster spots, I’d expect a cheap player like Bryn Forbes to be attached to create spots. A deal for multiple players would help us salary match in a three-way, where DLO’s giant contract is a problem. Plus, breaking up DLo’s deal might make sense from a roster perspective, because if we can’t bring back a PG, we don’t have another starter role to offer.
I should give an example. I just saw a deal on the Trade Board that sent DLo and Wendell Moore Jr to WAS for Kuzma ($13), Monte Morris ($9) and Delon Wright ($8). WAS might do a deal like this if they don’t expect to be able to keep Kuzma. This starts the tank, gives them a young prospect, and clears off next year’s $18 mil in Morris and Wright. For MIN, they shouldn’t mind a little extra salary next year, and even though these players aren’t perfect fits, particularly since Kuzma would have to come off the bench, MIN can use their manageable salaries to match players that fit better. We can’t get from Point A to Point B with DLo, but we could get there if we make a stop at Point C.
