Around the NBA (Part Two)

[Neeva]

Maybe Houston as a third team? With Smith Jr and filler going to Utah? kat to houston and Markannen and extra to wolves.
Maybe Utah thinks they make us worse without Kat and improves their pick for next year’s draft. I think it will be a pick in the twenties with or without KAT personally.

[Baseline81]

This sounds more like Utah throwing out teams to drive up the price as much as anything.

Leaning this way as well.

TC has stated the importance of keeping the core together.

Note I'm not against such a move.

[Note30]

And for the record, I’d love a Lauri for KAT swap. If we could also get Kessler back, even better. We originally drafted both Lauri and Kessler, let’s bring them home.

This doesn't sound like KAT. It sounds like Naz.

Naz and NAW for Lauri.

[jpatrick]

Maybe Houston as a third team? With Smith Jr and filler going to Utah? kat to houston and Markannen and extra to wolves.
Maybe Utah thinks they make us worse without Kat and improves their pick for next year’s draft. I think it will be a pick in the twenties with or without KAT personally.

Hmmmm….it was reported they want to win this year and were interested in Durant. Maybe after the Suns shut them down, they’ll turn to Towns. I actually would take Smith, salary, and assets (picks and young players) for KAT. But I really like Smith. I could also see them being the team that reroutes assets to Utah. They have too many good young players and a ton of future draft capital. And I could also see them preferring Towns’ size next to Segun as compared to someone like Lauri who despite being 7’, is more combo forward.

[moss_is_1]

And for the record, I’d love a Lauri for KAT swap. If we could also get Kessler back, even better. We originally drafted both Lauri and Kessler, let’s bring them home.

This doesn't sound like KAT. It sounds like Naz.

Naz and NAW for Lauri.

That's wishful thinking.

Has to be some sort of 3 team deal because Utah wouldn't want Kat. Gs has previously had interest. Rockets would be interesting.

[BlacJacMac]

Sounds more like the Utah GM just vaguely naming a few teams to drive up the price, than anything concrete.

“In addition to Golden State, Sacramento and San Antonio have been the two other teams characterized by league figures with knowledge of the situation as strong possible suitors for Markkanen at this point. For the Kings to land Markkanen, NBA personnel believe the Jazz would require Sacramento to part with Keegan Murray, and that might leave other trade options like Brandon Ingram as a more palatable outcome for the Kings. Minnesota has shown interest in Markkanen as well, sources said.

[jpatrick]

And for the record, I’d love a Lauri for KAT swap. If we could also get Kessler back, even better. We originally drafted both Lauri and Kessler, let’s bring them home.

This doesn't sound like KAT. It sounds like Naz.

Naz and NAW for Lauri.

I bet if you went to a neutral forum, like the trade board, they would say based on age, contract, and pretty equal play, Lauri had the same if not more value than KAT. I could be wrong.

[Klomp]

And for the record, I’d love a Lauri for KAT swap. If we could also get Kessler back, even better. We originally drafted both Lauri and Kessler, let’s bring them home.

This doesn't sound like KAT. It sounds like Naz.

Naz and NAW for Lauri.

APRON APRON APRON

[moss_is_1]

And for the record, I’d love a Lauri for KAT swap. If we could also get Kessler back, even better. We originally drafted both Lauri and Kessler, let’s bring them home.

This doesn't sound like KAT. It sounds like Naz.

Naz and NAW for Lauri.

I bet if you went to a neutral forum, like the trade board, they would say based on age, contract, and pretty equal play, Lauri had the same if not more value than KAT. I could be wrong.

Last year maybe. However Lauri is on an expiring contract so he's about to get a massive deal also.

[Calinks]

Thinking on the Klay move more, I actually think it could be good. Klay isn't the same but he doesn't have to be. If he can just be a good shooter and stay healthy he can be huge for them and that's certainly possible. It would be a new role and I am sure he will do everything he can to embrace it.

I love Towns and wish he could find redemption and success here but I do think moving him for Lauri makes a ton of sense.

Trading Towns for a "lesser" player who does a lot of the same things could be a net positive. Towns is super talented but one of our issues is we don't need him to do some of the stuff he can do and some of his flaws get in the way of the things we actually do need him to do. A guy like Lauri could maybe maximize the Towns stuff we need while eliminating the problems.

More corner threes, more threes period, more quick decisions, spot-up shots, maybe more mid-range shots. Fewer stupid fouls or bad drives. Just more efficient play. Conversely, Towns can perhaps go somewhere he can back to using more of his skills and playing with more space at center and he can look more like he did a few years ago when he was a devastating offensive weapon.

I wouldn't be opposed to a move like this because it could be the path to shedding some salary but keeping us very competitive.

[BlacJacMac]

This doesn't sound like KAT. It sounds like Naz.

Naz and NAW for Lauri.

I bet if you went to a neutral forum, like the trade board, they would say based on age, contract, and pretty equal play, Lauri had the same if not more value than KAT. I could be wrong.

Last year maybe. However Lauri is on an expiring contract so he's about to get a massive deal also.

He is, but it won't start until the season after this upcoming one. He'll only count 18M against the cap in 2024-25. He's eligible for something around 4/212 starting in 2025-26.

[FrenchMinnyFan]

I love KAT but Lauri is an interesting player. He play in a bad team for 2 years after DA decide to cut Rudy-Don-
Mike-Bogda and O Neal and go for a rebuild. He is basically as good as KAT on the offensive part but no as good in defense ( KAT make huge improvement this year) and is younger. Could be an option. Does it make us better? not so sure....

[shrink]

Markannen is on an expiring deal, and it is far from clear that he wants to extend here, and be assumed away.

I would also question NOP’s defense next to Zion with either Towns or Markannen.

[Calinks]

I actually think KAT is definitely a better player than Lauri, that is not a knock on Lauri, I just think Towns is underrated and underutilized with our current roster construction. That said, Lauri at this point could be (but maybe not) the smarter fit. I don't know if we can make it happen or work.

I do think there is a world where we could plug in a few guys who fit KAT's role more appropriately. Towns may be a bit overqualified as it were. He can do the job and I still think he can be a lot better on this team and expand his role and he needs to expand his role if he is back next season, but I also think we can plug someone else in that role who does less but can do more with less. More corner three's, more mid-range jumpers, more easy inside quick post looks, etc.

[shrink]

I actually think KAT is definitely a better player than Lauri, that is not a knock on Lauri, I just think Towns is underrated and underutilized with our current roster construction. That said, Lauri at this point could be (but maybe not) the smarter fit. I don't know if we can make it happen or work.

I do think there is a world where we could plug in a few guys who fit KAT's role more appropriately. Towns may be a bit overqualified as it were. He can do the job and I still think he can be a lot better on this team and expand his role and he needs to expand his role if he is back next season, but I also think we can plug someone else in that role who does less but can do more with less. More corner three's, more mid-range jumpers, more easy inside quick post looks, etc.

Good post. I’ve been thinking about this a lot the last few days, and “over-qualified” is a good term. Last season, I was pleased at how many of my worries about Towns were things he corrected. Screaming at the refs? He only had one technical foul for the whole season. Shoot more threes? Yes, but he needs to take even more. Better defense? Again, yes, particularly in the playoffs. And I’ve rarely seen a star player who has been so willing to sacrifice to help his team and upcoming star player. Even for the playoffs, rather than risk team chemistry changes after he came back from an absence, he was willing to play like Naz to help the team.

But to me, the bottom line is that while Towns is Uber-talented, his role as a perimeter defender does not fit his skillset perfectly, and while he has great ability to shoot threes and to drive, he often seems to not choose the right one. While playing PF means we are getting a lesser version of Towns, I wonder if a worse player could come close to replicating his value if he fit that PF role better? Trading the better player is always a big gamble, but it’s an option that Tim Connelly needs to consider.

[Klomp]

I actually think KAT is definitely a better player than Lauri, that is not a knock on Lauri, I just think Towns is underrated and underutilized with our current roster construction. That said, Lauri at this point could be (but maybe not) the smarter fit. I don't know if we can make it happen or work.

I do think there is a world where we could plug in a few guys who fit KAT's role more appropriately. Towns may be a bit overqualified as it were. He can do the job and I still think he can be a lot better on this team and expand his role and he needs to expand his role if he is back next season, but I also think we can plug someone else in that role who does less but can do more with less. More corner three's, more mid-range jumpers, more easy inside quick post looks, etc.

Good post. I’ve been thinking about this a lot the last few days, and “over-qualified” is a good term. Last season, I was pleased at how many of my worries about Towns were things he corrected. Screaming at the refs? He only had one technical foul for the whole season. Shoot more threes? Yes, but he needs to take even more. Better defense? Again, yes, particularly in the playoffs. And I’ve rarely seen a star player who has been so willing to sacrifice to help his team and upcoming star player. Even for the playoffs, rather than risk team chemistry changes after he came back from an absence, he was willing to play like Naz to help the team.

But to me, the bottom line is that while Towns is Uber-talented, his role as a perimeter defender does not fit his skillset perfectly, and while he has great ability to shoot threes and to drive, he often seems to not choose the right one. While playing PF means we are getting a lesser version of Towns, I wonder if a worse player could come close to replicating his value if he fit that PF role better? Trading the better player is always a big gamble, but it’s an option that Tim Connelly needs to consider.

This is good analysis from both of you.

[m2002brian]

Crazy idea…
But, what if, already having setting a precedent that defense leads to winning…
We trade Rudy and get Lauri back, moving Kat back to center?

Hmm

[minimus]

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[Klomp]

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That's a good signing for him and for them.

Bummer for us. Wonder if that changes the likelihood of McLaughlin staying or going....

[minimus]

Read on Twitter

That's a good signing for him and for them.

Bummer for us. Wonder if that changes the likelihood of McLaughlin staying or going....

Well, we have two PGs ahead of him in priority order. In PHO he will be main backup PG