WOJ: Spurs draft Rob Dillingham 8th, then trade him to the TWolves for an unprotected 2031 first

[Rust_Cohle]

You're still ridiculous with the notions that the Wolves aren't contenders and are likely to be terrible 6 years from now. We have a great young core and the player that is likely to be the best in the NBA in 6 years. Anything can happen, but we are more likely to be drafting in the 30s than in the top 10. Just to make sure one thing is clear. If I was young and in perfect health I still wouldn't give a rat's ass about the swap and pick. Way too far away to care about now.

Personal attacks are not allowed. Debate the post without calling the other poster a ridiculous idiot. Next one is a strike. -b

please. It is way more likely that Edwards will never be the best player in the NBA. And you keep bringing up this "young core" as if it's anyone notable besides Edwards and Reid to a lesser extent. I guarantee you 90% of the current Wolves roster will not be on the team in 6 years

I'd be surprised if one player on the team today is still there 6yrs from now.

Exactly. They’d have to have superb move after superb move. For all we know this past season really was the outlier for the wolves. They cannot afford to keep this core. Seeing how much dillingham has struggled with his shooting just against summer league players (but admittedly, that could change even if his size won’t) the Spurs took a great gamble.

Plus they may even trade the pick well before 2030.

[Myth]

Plus they may even trade the pick well before 2030.

I always assumed it wasn't to use the pick. I figure with Wemby, they will be trying to make big trade for a star sidekick some day, and a future pick combined with many of their own picks and salary is the plan.

[Dan33185]

Sorry you’re diabetic, but a strong chance timberwolves will be terrible by 2030. I hope you are around to see it and that the next rebuild is even more successful. Going to be difficult to keep this core with the new apron rules.

Try to not be so hard in yourself and taking it out on others when the reality suggests a franchise that has been pretty mediocre for most of its existence may continue to be 6-7 years from now.

You're still ridiculous with the notions that the Wolves aren't contenders and are likely to be terrible 6 years from now. We have a great young core and the player that is likely to be the best in the NBA in 6 years. Anything can happen, but we are more likely to be drafting in the 30s than in the top 10. Just to make sure one thing is clear. If I was young and in perfect health I still wouldn't give a rat's ass about the swap and pick. Way too far away to care about now.

Personal attacks are not allowed. Debate the post without calling the other poster a ridiculous idiot. Next one is a strike. -b

please. It is way more likely that Edwards will never be the best player in the NBA. And you keep bringing up this "young core" as if it's anyone notable besides Edwards and Reid to a lesser extent. I guarantee you 90% of the current Wolves roster will not be on the team in 6 years

Jaden McDaniels is an elite defender at 23, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker is another great defender off the bench at 25. There are other pieces as well, but those two, along with Edwards and Reid make up a pretty good young core 25 and under. But, if you haven't watched a lot of Wolves basketball, it's hard to know that. Me personally, I know Wemby on the Spurs and I couldn't tell you another player on that team. Doesn't mean they aren't there though.

[AbeVigodaLive]

You're still ridiculous with the notions that the Wolves aren't contenders and are likely to be terrible 6 years from now. We have a great young core and the player that is likely to be the best in the NBA in 6 years. Anything can happen, but we are more likely to be drafting in the 30s than in the top 10. Just to make sure one thing is clear. If I was young and in perfect health I still wouldn't give a rat's ass about the swap and pick. Way too far away to care about now.

Personal attacks are not allowed. Debate the post without calling the other poster a ridiculous idiot. Next one is a strike. -b

please. It is way more likely that Edwards will never be the best player in the NBA. And you keep bringing up this "young core" as if it's anyone notable besides Edwards and Reid to a lesser extent. I guarantee you 90% of the current Wolves roster will not be on the team in 6 years

Jaden McDaniels is an elite defender at 23, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker is another great defender off the bench at 25. There are other pieces as well, but those two, along with Edwards and Reid make up a pretty good young core 25 and under. But, if you haven't watched a lot of Wolves basketball, it's hard to know that. Me personally, I know Wemby on the Spurs and I couldn't tell you another player on that team. Doesn't mean they aren't there though.

To be fair... whether the Timberwolves have solid young players or not is sorta irrelevant.

It's still unlikely many will be around in 6 years.



{Note: Including Edwards. I'm highly skeptical he'll be in Minnesota after this deal. There aren't enough financial incentives to overcome the many reasons he'll have to leave. So, as a Timberwolves fan, I'll try to enjoy the ride as much as possible while I can.]

[JM00n69]

please. It is way more likely that Edwards will never be the best player in the NBA. And you keep bringing up this "young core" as if it's anyone notable besides Edwards and Reid to a lesser extent. I guarantee you 90% of the current Wolves roster will not be on the team in 6 years

I'd be surprised if one player on the team today is still there 6yrs from now.

LMAO. , but if true it shows how ridiculous trading for assets 6 or more years away is. There's zero predictability. However it's easy to predict based on the Wolves excellent young core. The swap and pick are likely to be in the 20s or 30s.

I don't think you're getting my point. MIN is loaded and will be a top West favorite for the next 3-4yrs. They are LOADED going into next year. But the new CBA rules make it very difficult to keep that core together even past those 3-4yrs, It's not just down to the owner being OK to spend for it.

This is a good trade for both teams. MIN gets a young guy to fill a bottom spot on a cheap deal and SAS gets a far future 1st to add as extra value to a trade this year or next. They've not made this trade to use the pick in '31, it's an asset that is worth more to them specifically than Rob is now.

[Dan33185]

please. It is way more likely that Edwards will never be the best player in the NBA. And you keep bringing up this "young core" as if it's anyone notable besides Edwards and Reid to a lesser extent. I guarantee you 90% of the current Wolves roster will not be on the team in 6 years

Jaden McDaniels is an elite defender at 23, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker is another great defender off the bench at 25. There are other pieces as well, but those two, along with Edwards and Reid make up a pretty good young core 25 and under. But, if you haven't watched a lot of Wolves basketball, it's hard to know that. Me personally, I know Wemby on the Spurs and I couldn't tell you another player on that team. Doesn't mean they aren't there though.

To be fair... whether the Timberwolves have solid young players or not is sorta irrelevant.

It's still unlikely many will be around in 6 years.



{Note: Including Edwards. I'm highly skeptical he'll be in Minnesota after this deal. There aren't enough financial incentives to overcome the many reasons he'll have to leave. So, as a Timberwolves fan, I'll try to enjoy the ride as much as possible while I can.]

Huh? Why exactly will he "have" to leave?

[JM00n69]

Jaden McDaniels is an elite defender at 23, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker is another great defender off the bench at 25. There are other pieces as well, but those two, along with Edwards and Reid make up a pretty good young core 25 and under. But, if you haven't watched a lot of Wolves basketball, it's hard to know that. Me personally, I know Wemby on the Spurs and I couldn't tell you another player on that team. Doesn't mean they aren't there though.

To be fair... whether the Timberwolves have solid young players or not is sorta irrelevant.

It's still unlikely many will be around in 6 years.



{Note: Including Edwards. I'm highly skeptical he'll be in Minnesota after this deal. There aren't enough financial incentives to overcome the many reasons he'll have to leave. So, as a Timberwolves fan, I'll try to enjoy the ride as much as possible while I can.]

Huh? Why exactly will he "have" to leave?

Ant wont HAVE to leave but in 6yrs the window will be closed. They are all in for the next 3-4yrs and rightfully so. The second apron on the new CBA is very restrictive even to keep your own players. He can stay but wont have any help. He'd be a massive trade asset and I doubt he'd want to play for a team that wont be able to compete by then.

[Dan33185]

To be fair... whether the Timberwolves have solid young players or not is sorta irrelevant.

It's still unlikely many will be around in 6 years.



{Note: Including Edwards. I'm highly skeptical he'll be in Minnesota after this deal. There aren't enough financial incentives to overcome the many reasons he'll have to leave. So, as a Timberwolves fan, I'll try to enjoy the ride as much as possible while I can.]

Huh? Why exactly will he "have" to leave?

Ant wont HAVE to leave but in 6yrs the window will be closed. They are all in for the next 3-4yrs and rightfully so. The second apron on the new CBA is very restrictive even to keep your own players. He can stay but wont have any help. He'd be a massive trade asset and I doubt he'd want to play for a team that wont be able to compete by then.

Are all other teams except for the Wolves exempt from this? Seems to me he'll be dealing with this anywhere he goes.

[JM00n69]

Huh? Why exactly will he "have" to leave?

Ant wont HAVE to leave but in 6yrs the window will be closed. They are all in for the next 3-4yrs and rightfully so. The second apron on the new CBA is very restrictive even to keep your own players. He can stay but wont have any help. He'd be a massive trade asset and I doubt he'd want to play for a team that wont be able to compete by then.

Are all other teams except for the Wolves exempt from this? Seems to me he'll be dealing with this anywhere he goes.

Well no, but if MIN is filled with young players and won't be competitive for the foreseeable they can trade him to another team that is competing for expiring and picks. Would be better for teams future and Ant would have a chance to compete somewhere else.

[JM00n69]

Ant wont HAVE to leave but in 6yrs the window will be closed. They are all in for the next 3-4yrs and rightfully so. The second apron on the new CBA is very restrictive even to keep your own players. He can stay but wont have any help. He'd be a massive trade asset and I doubt he'd want to play for a team that wont be able to compete by then.

Are all other teams except for the Wolves exempt from this? Seems to me he'll be dealing with this anywhere he goes.

Well no, but if MIN is filled with young players and won't be competitive for the foreseeable they can trade him to another team that is competing for expiring and picks/great young players on cheap deals. Would be better for teams future and Ant would have a chance to compete somewhere else.

[KGdaBom]

To be fair... whether the Timberwolves have solid young players or not is sorta irrelevant.

It's still unlikely many will be around in 6 years.



{Note: Including Edwards. I'm highly skeptical he'll be in Minnesota after this deal. There aren't enough financial incentives to overcome the many reasons he'll have to leave. So, as a Timberwolves fan, I'll try to enjoy the ride as much as possible while I can.]

Huh? Why exactly will he "have" to leave?

Ant wont HAVE to leave but in 6yrs the window will be closed. They are all in for the next 3-4yrs and rightfully so. The second apron on the new CBA is very restrictive even to keep your own players. He can stay but wont have any help. He'd be a massive trade asset and I doubt he'd want to play for a team that wont be able to compete by then.

With the Wolves great young core odds are very strong that the Wolves will be able to compete then.

[KGdaBom]

Ant wont HAVE to leave but in 6yrs the window will be closed. They are all in for the next 3-4yrs and rightfully so. The second apron on the new CBA is very restrictive even to keep your own players. He can stay but wont have any help. He'd be a massive trade asset and I doubt he'd want to play for a team that wont be able to compete by then.

Are all other teams except for the Wolves exempt from this? Seems to me he'll be dealing with this anywhere he goes.

Well no, but if MIN is filled with young players and won't be competitive for the foreseeable they can trade him to another team that is competing for expiring and picks. Would be better for teams future and Ant would have a chance to compete somewhere else.

Ant's best chance to compete for titles is going to be right where he is now in Minnesota.

[Klomp]

To be fair... whether the Timberwolves have solid young players or not is sorta irrelevant.

It's still unlikely many will be around in 6 years.

In normal circumstances I would probably agree with you. However, it's not just cute young players with promise like the days of Jonny Flynn and Wes Johnson. These are guys now who have made an imprint on a league-wide level in Edwards and McDaniels. And they are locked in for most of these 6 years.

I understand the thought process to bet on the Timberwolves being bad.....I mean, it's the Timberwolves, right?! But just like the Grizzlies finally got to a point where they turned the franchise around with a core group built around young cornerstones like Conley, Gasol and Gay, I think the Timberwolves are finally to that point as a franchise.

[JM00n69]

Are all other teams except for the Wolves exempt from this? Seems to me he'll be dealing with this anywhere he goes.

Well no, but if MIN is filled with young players and won't be competitive for the foreseeable they can trade him to another team that is competing for expiring and picks. Would be better for teams future and Ant would have a chance to compete somewhere else.

Ant's best chance to compete for titles is going to be right where he is now in Minnesota.

100% I agree. But after the current players contacts come to be extended or ended it's a different story.

The new league rules are very very restrictive if you go over the 2nd apron.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/contracts/MIN.html

Year after next MIN has Gobert and Naz with player options. Gobert will want more money over more years guaranteed because he's at the end of his career and Naz will want to get paid this time on a max years/money deal as he is entering his prime. Even if you let Gobert go you can't use his cap hold because your over the cap. So the team will extend both because it's better to have him while the championship window is open. Then MIN will be over the second apron and will be severely **** by the rules:

can't use the mid-level exception, can't trade multiple players in the same deal, can't sign-and-trade their own players to acquire others, and can't send out cash in any trades. That's starting season 26/27. What do you think the situation is entering 30/31?

[KGdaBom]

Well no, but if MIN is filled with young players and won't be competitive for the foreseeable they can trade him to another team that is competing for expiring and picks. Would be better for teams future and Ant would have a chance to compete somewhere else.

Ant's best chance to compete for titles is going to be right where he is now in Minnesota.

100% I agree. But after the current players contacts come to be extended or ended it's a different story.

The new league rules are very very restrictive if you go over the 2nd apron.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/contracts/MIN.html

Year after next MIN has Gobert and Naz with player options. Gobert will want more money over more years guaranteed because he's at the end of his career and Naz will want to get paid this time on a max years/money deal as he is entering his prime. Even if you let Gobert go you can't use his cap hold because your over the cap. So the team will extend both because it's better to have him while the championship window is open. Then MIN will be over the second apron and will be severely **** by the rules:

can't use the mid-level exception, can't trade multiple players in the same deal, can't sign-and-trade their own players to acquire others, and can't send out cash in any trades. That's starting season 26/27. What do you think the situation is entering 30/31?

Rudy will not be getting a raise. It's just a question of how much of a pay cut he will agree to. Naz is a backup. He won't be getting a max deal, but likely will get a raise. With Ant, Naz, Shannon, McDaniels, Dillingham, KAT and Miller available The Wolves don't need to extend Rudy to stay in contention. Rudy will obviously be gone by 2030, but Ant will be the best player in the league by then. The rules are restrictive, but we have a GM who can figure out how to get the 8th pick in this years draft by giving up a swap and a pick 6 and 7 years from now. He will figure out how to deal with whatever comes along.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Jaden McDaniels is an elite defender at 23, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker is another great defender off the bench at 25. There are other pieces as well, but those two, along with Edwards and Reid make up a pretty good young core 25 and under. But, if you haven't watched a lot of Wolves basketball, it's hard to know that. Me personally, I know Wemby on the Spurs and I couldn't tell you another player on that team. Doesn't mean they aren't there though.

To be fair... whether the Timberwolves have solid young players or not is sorta irrelevant.

It's still unlikely many will be around in 6 years.



{Note: Including Edwards. I'm highly skeptical he'll be in Minnesota after this deal. There aren't enough financial incentives to overcome the many reasons he'll have to leave. So, as a Timberwolves fan, I'll try to enjoy the ride as much as possible while I can.]

Huh? Why exactly will he "have" to leave?

I think you misinterpreted my post.

He'll "have many reasons to leave"... doesn't mean he'll "have to leave."

[AbeVigodaLive]

To be fair... whether the Timberwolves have solid young players or not is sorta irrelevant.

It's still unlikely many will be around in 6 years.

In normal circumstances I would probably agree with you. However, it's not just cute young players with promise like the days of Jonny Flynn and Wes Johnson. These are guys now who have made an imprint on a league-wide level in Edwards and McDaniels. And they are locked in for most of these 6 years.

I understand the thought process to bet on the Timberwolves being bad.....I mean, it's the Timberwolves, right?! But just like the Grizzlies finally got to a point where they turned the franchise around with a core group built around young cornerstones like Conley, Gasol and Gay, I think the Timberwolves are finally to that point as a franchise.

I'm not saying the Timberwolves will be bad. I am saying that the team's future is limited by a lack of draft assets (right now) and even more restrictive measures facing them as a 2nd apron team.

Those issues aren't always as noticeable before or even during the good times. But they take a toll.

Heck, Minnesota fans already have experienced this 20 years ago when the Joe Smith signing cost the team 5 1st round picks (I'm counting Ndudi Ebi). The team still competed and even made the WCF despite it... but the years of no 1st round draft picks caught up to them and Garnett and castoffs missed out on the playoffs for three straight years.

___________________________________________

And to be honest... I don't know if Edwards stays in Minnesota even if they're good in 4 or 5 or 6 years. Recent NBA history tells us that it's MUCH more likely for star players to move on than stay with the same team. Heck, Edwards just spent the past few weeks with his self-proclaimed idol, Kevin Durant.

- Durant left OKC after 9 seasons as a free agent. Did leaving OKC hurt his career?
- Edwards would be eligible to leave the Timberwolves after 9 seasons as a free agent.

I think it's myopic or even silly for modern NBA fans to assume their favorite players are going to stick with the same team for (xx) years.

[Klomp]

I'm not saying the Timberwolves will be bad. I am saying that the team's future is limited by a lack of draft assets (right now) and even more restrictive measures facing them as a 2nd apron team.

Those issues aren't always as noticeable before or even during the good times. But they take a toll.

Heck, Minnesota fans already have experienced this 20 years ago when the Joe Smith signing cost the team 5 1st round picks (I'm counting Ndudi Ebi). The team still competed and even made the WCF despite it... but the years of no 1st round draft picks caught up to them and Garnett and castoffs missed out on the playoffs for three straight years.

___________________________________________

And to be honest... I don't know if Edwards stays in Minnesota even if they're good in 4 or 5 or 6 years. Recent NBA history tells us that it's MUCH more likely for star players to move on than stay with the same team. Heck, Edwards just spent the past few weeks with his self-proclaimed idol, Kevin Durant.

- Durant left OKC after 9 seasons as a free agent. Did leaving OKC hurt his career?
- Edwards would be eligible to leave the Timberwolves after 9 seasons as a free agent.

I'm not saying you're wrong, but I'm more hopeful that this situation can turn out better than it did 24 years ago.

There were a lot of extenuating circumstances that led to the plateau. Yes the lost draft picks contributed to it. But they also had traded their most recent draft pick for a couple of vets. Oh yeah, and there was also the death of starting forward Malik Sealy. I know you know this, but most people don't.

When Minnesota lost those picks, they were a first-round exit team. They did what they could to remain competitive, but they were also looking more short-term with their moves than long-term.

The Dillingham trade (the reason for this thread) is the antithesis of anything that happened 20-24 years ago. Minnesota is surrounding Edwards with young assets, even at a time when everyone says the franchise is devoid of any ability to improve the roster. This group is not a first-round exit team. They were in the Western Conference Finals. And they have so far used whatever means necessary to improve the longterm future of the franchise around Edwards.

Meanwhile, Presti is known as this draft guru, but when it really mattered most, what did he really offer? Between when the Thunder made the Finals and when Durant left, who was their best infusion of young talent? Steven Adams? Presti is better at acquiring draft picks than he is at using them. That's likely a big reason why Durant left.

Edwards has a coach he loves. Presti made a coaching change in desperation the year before he left town.

[DwayneSchintzus]

We have a great young core and the player that is likely to be the best in the NBA in 6 years.

Victor Wembanyama is likely to be the best player in the NBA in 6 years. He's on our team, not the Wolves.

Just stop already.

[KGdaBom]

We have a great young core and the player that is likely to be the best in the NBA in 6 years.

Victor Wembanyama is likely to be the best player in the NBA in 6 years. He's on our team, not the Wolves.

Just stop already.

That's possible. It's more likely Ant is. How about you stop it with your loser team and loser GM. The Wolves have GM superstar Tim Connelly. You have Wright leading you down the Wrong path. Who's going to be better in 2030? It's an easy call.

Edit: To be honest a couple bad years doesn't make you a loser team, but I stand by my comment that Wright is a loser GM. If you stick with him he will come away from the Wemby years with nothing to show for it. For your sake get rid of him as quick as you can.