Trade Talk (Part 14): 2023-24 Edition

[BlacJacMac]

This three teamer works IMO
Markkanen, Murray and Dunn to Wolves
Towns and Anderson to Hawks
Jalen Johnson,Minott, filler and picks to jazz.

Hawks came out and said Johnson is off limits.

There is no such thing.

[Neeva]

This three teamer works IMO
Markkanen, Murray and Dunn to Wolves
Towns and Anderson to Hawks
Jalen Johnson,Minott, filler and picks to jazz.

Hawks came out and said Johnson is off limits.

I think they are posturing, he’s not close to an off limits young and for sure future star player but he is probably their only way to get a legit second star to pair with Trae, their other assets are pretty underwhelming.

[minimus]

I wish we could just swap Anderson and Milton for Huerter

[twolves31]

I wish we could just swap Anderson and Milton for Huerter

I'm sure this isn't the first time good old sleepy standrew has made this list.

[Guest84]

Not sure if this is the right thread for this but looking around at the league, this year may be the best chance for the wolves to cash in on a championship run. So finding players that can help with that by the deadline is more important as the season goes in my opinion. We'll see how things shake out but it seems like they have a great opportunity to do it this year.

[twolves31]

As next month's trade deadline approaches, Timberwolves backup guard Shake Milton has been brought up as possible trade chip.

"I think the Wolves end up trading Shake Milton," said KSTP's Darren Wolfson on a recent appearance on SKOR North's Mackey & Judd show. "I also sense that is something he would happily welcome."

Milton, 27, signed with Minnesota in the offseason but hasn't settled into the team's rotation. Through 29 games Milton's numbers are down from his five years in Philadelphia.

Milton regularly broke double-digit minutes in the team's first 22 games but now has failed to appear in six of the Wolves' last 13 games entering play Tuesday. He's only played double-digit minutes twice in that span.

"I think they end up doing something," Wolfson continued. "They realize they need a little bit more bench power, they could use some shooting help. You can make the case for a backup point guard."

Minnesota has slumped of late, going 5-5 in the last 10 games while seeing a number of key defensive statistics drop. In fact, since Dec. 20 they have the 9th-ranked defensive rating (114.9) and the 21st-ranked offensive rating (114.4).

Not exactly surprising.

[Klomp]

Minnesota has slumped of late, going 5-5 in the last 10 games while seeing a number of key defensive statistics drop. In fact, since Dec. 20 they have the 9th-ranked defensive rating (114.9) and the 21st-ranked offensive rating (114.4).

Not exactly surprising.

I am not trying to put it all on him, but we are 1-4 in games with McLaughlin back in the rotation (not counting the two DNP in the middle. Is there something there?

I think we put him in to revive the offense, but the defense has suffered in this stretch. Are they related?

[Klomp]

I know everyone wants a true point guard to start every offensive set and all of our offensive issues will be cured. But something in the back of my mind says Connelly is going to once again zag where everyone else would zig.

I think we're going to dive deeper into our defensive identity, possibly getting someone like Marcus Smart.

[Colbinii]

I know everyone wants a true point guard to start every offensive set and all of our offensive issues will be cured. But something in the back of my mind says Connelly is going to once again zag where everyone else would zig.

I think we're going to dive deeper into our defensive identity, possibly getting someone like Marcus Smart.

We basically get there salary wise with SlowMo, Milton, TBJ and Moore Jr.

[Domejandro]

Posted the following on the T&T Board. I don't know if it is enough to net Alex Caruso, but barring adding another second, it is the most that Minnesota could really offer.

Being honest, I don't think that Chicago are going to be sellers (much to the chagrin of their fanbase), but here is an attempt at an Alex Caruso trade. There is another alternative where Chicago gets Wendell Moore Jr. (solving problems for Minnesota), but I figured that it is worth keeping the bones of the trade simple. Maybe Utah kicks in a second, but here is the rough trade.

IMPORTANT: Minnesota would be trading their 2026, 2027 (Swap), 2028, and 2030 First Round Draft Picks to the Utah Jazz in exchange for their 2025, 2026 (Swap), 2027, and 2029 (1-5 Protected) First Round Draft Picks. This would free up the 2024 First Round Draft Pick to be traded to the Chicago Bulls.

______________________________
CHI: Shake Milton, Troy Brown Jr., MIN 2024 FRP, and 2024 MEM/WAS SRP
OUT: Alex Caruso

Why for Chicago? Get a late first and a high second for Alex Caruso. Shake Milton and Troy Brown Jr.'s contracts are unguaranteed, next season.
______________________________

MIN: Alex Caruso
OUT: Shake Milton, Troy Brown Jr., MIN 2024 FRP, and 2024 MEM/WAS SRP

Why for Minneota? Go all-in on their defensive identity. The team would need to unload someone like Wendell Moore Jr. elsewhere and sign two low-cost players to stay under $1.5MM of the Luxury-Tax, but not worth complicating the thread further with that.

Mike Conley / Nickeil Alexander Walker / Jordan McLaughlin
Anthony Edwards / Alex Caruso / Daishen Nix (2WP)
Jaden McDaniels / Josh Minott
Karl-Anthony Towns / Kyle Anderson / Leonard Miller
Rudy Gobert / Naz Reid / Luka Garza (2WP)
______________________________

UTAH: 2026/2027(Swap)/2028/2030 Minnesota First Round Draft Picks
OUT: 2025/2026(Swap)/2027/2029(1-4 Protected) Minnesota First Round Draft Picks

Why for Utah? Push back Minnesota's obligations by a year in exchange for unprotecting the final pick.
______________________________

[shrink]

MIN is about to have one of the worst 1st round picks this year. Utah should pay US to back up our picks.

[winforlose]

MIN is about to have one of the worst 1st round picks this year. Utah should pay US to back up our picks.

Back up our pick?

[shrink]

MIN is about to have one of the worst 1st round picks this year. Utah should pay US to back up our picks.

Back up our pick?

I don’t know. The quality of each draft, plus how long a GM wants to wait, probably influence the price.

[EDIT out my confusion]

[winforlose]

MIN is about to have one of the worst 1st round picks this year. Utah should pay US to back up our picks.

Back up our pick?

I don’t know. The quality of each draft, plus how long a GM wants to wait, probably influence the price.

Still, without changing the original deal, I think MIN is very happy to extinguish part of their obligation with their late 2024 1st.

I don’t follow. Pay us to what exactly? We don’t owe anything on our 24 pick.

[shrink]

Back up our pick?

I don’t know. The quality of each draft, plus how long a GM wants to wait, probably influence the price.

Still, without changing the original deal, I think MIN is very happy to extinguish part of their obligation with their late 2024 1st.

I don’t follow. Pay us to what exactly? We don’t owe anything on our 24 pick.

You’re right. I read the trade and got confused. Thanks, I’ll edit.

[winforlose]

Just went back and reread the above. Caruso would be a big get, but NAW is not a PG and cannot play PG. I thought Caruso could but just checked and his AST/TO is only 2.5/1.4. Is Caruso capable of being an on ball PG?

[Domejandro]

Just went back and reread the above. Caruso would be a big get, but NAW is not a PG and cannot play PG. I thought Caruso could but just checked and his AST/TO is only 2.5/1.4. Is Caruso capable of being an on ball PG?

Alex Caruso is a mostly wing, not a Point-Guard. That said, he is also the best non-big defensive player in the entire NBA who can guard 1-4 against most lineups. Dude is legitimately a defensive savant.

[minimus]

Just went back and reread the above. Caruso would be a big get, but NAW is not a PG and cannot play PG. I thought Caruso could but just checked and his AST/TO is only 2.5/1.4. Is Caruso capable of being an on ball PG?

Alex Caruso is a mostly wing, not a Point-Guard. That said, he is also the best non-big defensive player in the entire NBA who can guard 1-4 against most lineups. Dude is legitimately a defensive savant.

CHI had second best defense in 2nd half of last season, and he was the biggest reason why they were good defensively.

[TimberKat]

Assuming we are not doing any big swing in mid season and we are one month away from trading deadline. What is the one somewhat realistic trade that will help the most?

1. Tyrus Jones for KA+ seems to check most boxes

2. Is Caruso a better choice?

3. Others had mentioned: Kennard, BOGDAN
BOGDANOVIC, KEVIN HUERTER, Westbrook?

4. Maybe claim Hayward once he is waived too?

[moss_is_1]

Just went back and reread the above. Caruso would be a big get, but NAW is not a PG and cannot play PG. I thought Caruso could but just checked and his AST/TO is only 2.5/1.4. Is Caruso capable of being an on ball PG?

Alex Caruso is a mostly wing, not a Point-Guard. That said, he is also the best non-big defensive player in the entire NBA who can guard 1-4 against most lineups. Dude is legitimately a defensive savant.

Caruso would be a huge get, I think something that could be explored would be dealing NAW for him if it came down to it. Caruso is basically just a better version, but Chicago might like getting him back and he's still young enough to continue to develop. Though having 3 high level wing defenders for the postseason would be a fantastic luxury.