Best assets Minnesota could get for Naz Reid and/or Jaden McDaniels?

[ConSarnit]

Come on. Jazz situation isn’t even close. You are not even trying to hold a quality discussion. Nets too. Those were superstars.

The Wolves are good because of their entire roster. It’s Edwards team. But Gobert and Towns are elite role players or secondary stars - we will let you decide. Then McDaniels who is a budding elite role player.

If you trade Towns for a pile of dog pu, of course Wolves will take a step back. That is NOT what they are doing.

Towns can be traded for a greater collection of parts who make the whole. As amazing as Towns is, he doesn’t break Wolves roster when he is traded. I mean Reid (already on roster) can replace 70-80% of what Towns delivers. I think a professional GM can acquire other players via Towns trade that make up the delta and MORE.

I think we agree more or less on how good Towns and Gobert are but have a fundamental disagreement on how basketball talent translates to wins. I don't think it's linear. Naz can be a 6'9 Towns who gives you 80% of the scoring but that extra 20% is worth well over 20% increase in salary imo. Ensemble teams suck in basketball and lose to teams with better top-end talent.

You are discounting who Wolves get for Towns. Let’s use your example of Mikal Bridges+. (We get that trade won’t happen - Nets want to pair them not swap - but use him as placeholder).

Gobert
McDaniels | Reid
Bridges
Edwards
Conley

Then what does Connlley do with the +. He has been an assassin with resources. Wolves already have a late 2024 1st and early 2024 2nd and 2031 1st (plus multiple swaps). Add that to Reid+. For same money as Towns + Reid, he could have Bridges + Murray (easy acquisition with that value or better but to use another place holder). Boom, Wolves are under 2nd apron, probably both aprons and just as good or better than Towns.

I would also counter that the extra 20% you might get from Towns is not really 20% as the team is currently constructed. The TWolves are never going to get $50m/yr value out of Towns.

Towns value is on the offensive end. As his offensive role declines his overall value declines. He's also playing PF a lot and that doesn't provide the same advantages as if Towns were playing C and drawing the opposing C outside. MIN is winning on defense and that isn't because of Towns. If Towns is a 22/8 guy that is easier to replace than 25/10 Towns because it's not like Towns is making it up on the defensive end.

Towns at PF is just not optimal use of his skillset. There is definitely some marginalization going on. MIN might think they can cobble together most of his output by increased roles for Reid and McDaniels (obviously debatable as a proposition). But if they can also take Towns salary and use $40m for depth + whatever assets they get back to Towns to improve the team it might be a wash overall. Towns has also not exactly been a playoff dynamo (though the sample size isn't large).

It would be risky for MIN to move Towns but I can see the theory behind it.

[Wolveswin]

I think we agree more or less on how good Towns and Gobert are but have a fundamental disagreement on how basketball talent translates to wins. I don't think it's linear. Naz can be a 6'9 Towns who gives you 80% of the scoring but that extra 20% is worth well over 20% increase in salary imo. Ensemble teams suck in basketball and lose to teams with better top-end talent.

You are discounting who Wolves get for Towns. Let’s use your example of Mikal Bridges+. (We get that trade won’t happen - Nets want to pair them not swap - but use him as placeholder).

Gobert
McDaniels | Reid
Bridges
Edwards
Conley

Then what does Connlley do with the +. He has been an assassin with resources. Wolves already have a late 2024 1st and early 2024 2nd and 2031 1st (plus multiple swaps). Add that to Reid+. For same money as Towns + Reid, he could have Bridges + Murray (easy acquisition with that value or better but to use another place holder). Boom, Wolves are under 2nd apron, probably both aprons and just as good or better than Towns.

I would also counter that the extra 20% you might get from Towns is not really 20% as the team is currently constructed. The TWolves are never going to get $50m/yr value out of Towns.

Towns value is on the offensive end. As his offensive role declines his overall value declines. He's also playing PF a lot and that doesn't provide the same advantages as if Towns were playing C and drawing the opposing C outside. MIN is winning on defense and that isn't because of Towns. If Towns is a 22/8 guy that is easier to replace than 25/10 Towns because it's not like Towns is making it up on the defensive end.

Towns at PF is just not optimal use of his skillset. There is definitely some marginalization going on. MIN might think they can cobble together most of his output by increased roles for Reid and McDaniels (obviously debatable as a proposition). But if they can also take Towns salary and use $40m for depth + whatever assets they get back to Towns to improve the team it might be a wash overall. Towns has also not exactly been a playoff dynamo (though the sample size isn't large).

It would be risky for MIN to move Towns but I can see the theory behind it.

That is the amazing spot Wolves are in. They can keep current team, as is with Towns, it’s just money. No one demanding out, no flight risks for 2 more seasons (Gobert who should opt out PO and re-sign), and current roster is 2nd best team in all NBA.

OR

If money is a problem, Towns is exhibit A to get traded. And his value is at all time high. Connelly may have to downgrade one singular person but acquire parts that can take roster to next level while saving the money needed.