Best offers for Nickiel Alexander-Walker

[Mamba4Goat]

In light of the one trade...DDV is in town and locked into a dirt cheap deal to potentially be a NAW replacement. If Minnesota knows they won't be able to afford NAW this offseason, they may look to move him for either an interesting youth that is under a longer term contract (could add the newly acquired Detroit 1st too) or try to get some pick compensation for him. What does his market look like?

Friendly reminder: Minnesota cannot take back more money than they're sending out nor can they add salaries to NAW to get to a more expensive player.

Minnesota probably targets a big wing/forward if you're looking for needs--someone who'd guard the guys Kyle Anderson would've guarded.

[eminence]

Tough deal to find, not many contributors at that price point. Would need a team to have kind of given up on a youngster that Minnesota still believed in - Jovic maybe?

Ask about Eason, though Houston absolutely should not do it. That dude is a stud.

[Godaddycurse]

Agbaji + POR 2025 2nd

[zimpy27]

PG: Conley (30) | DDV (18)
SG: Ant (41) | DDV (7)
SF: McD (32) | NAW (16)
PF: Randle (38) | Naz (10)
C : Gobert (34) | Naz (14)

I think NAW still has a role

[shrink]

With Keita Bates-Diop added to the deal, the Wolves need to move a contract to get down to 15 roster spots, so a team that has a big enough TPE and a little incentive could have an edge.

I think the teams with active TPE’s that can absorb NAW’s $4,312,500 are:

ATL, BRK, CHI, DAL, DEN, MEM, MIA, NOP, NYK, POR, SAC, TOR, WAS and of course DET.

[Mamba4Goat]

PG: Conley (30) | DDV (18)
SG: Ant (41) | DDV (7)
SF: McD (32) | NAW (16)
PF: Randle (38) | Naz (10)
C : Gobert (34) | Naz (14)

I think NAW still has a role

Don’t forget Rob Dillingham who will still likely be the backup PG

[shrink]

PG: Conley (30) | DDV (18)
SG: Ant (41) | DDV (7)
SF: McD (32) | NAW (16)
PF: Randle (38) | Naz (10)
C : Gobert (34) | Naz (14)

I think NAW still has a role

I like your rotation, but Connelly is very committed to giving Dillingham minutes right away, and Finch is excited about using Ingles as a facilitator, like his beloved Kyle Anderson. The Wolves may keep NAW just to help with the playoff run, but then they’d likely lose him for nothing next summer when they couldn’t afford to pay him.

[zimpy27]

PG: Conley (30) | DDV (18)
SG: Ant (41) | DDV (7)
SF: McD (32) | NAW (16)
PF: Randle (38) | Naz (10)
C : Gobert (34) | Naz (14)

I think NAW still has a role

Don’t forget Rob Dillingham who will still likely be the backup PG

I'm not sure if it's worth having the rookie in as a certain rotation player. It's possible but right now the 8 players listed are the reliable ones we know will work.

[psman2]

Tough ask, I think plenty of teams would send worthless salary and 2nds, but a 1st for a pending UFA that has only had one year of rotation worthy ball is not likely happening. As for a rookie contract player, again likely not happening for anyone that has shown promise enough that Minny would make the swap. TPE/2nds is likely the best case scenario here.

[Domejandro]

My wonder is if there is a way to swing Nickeil Alexander-Walker and the Detroit FRP for a young player who is on a rookie scale contract.

Example:

MIN: Walker Kessler
OUT: Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Detroit's 2025 FRP (Protected)

UTA: X player, Detroit's 2025 FRP (Protected), and third team value
OUT: Walker Kessler

TEAM: Nickeil Alexander-Walker
OUT: X player and third team value

Being clear, the above is just a framework, I don't even think that Walker Kessler makes sense for Minnesota.


In the end, I think it makes sense to keep Nickeil Alexander-Walker. If Mike Conley goes down, he is desperately needed to fill those minutes (Donte Divincenzo sliding into the starting role). I don't see a good reason to move him.

[giberish]

PG: Conley (30) | DDV (18)
SG: Ant (41) | DDV (7)
SF: McD (32) | NAW (16)
PF: Randle (38) | Naz (10)
C : Gobert (34) | Naz (14)

I think NAW still has a role

I like your rotation, but Connelly is very committed to giving Dillingham minutes right away, and Finch is excited about using Ingles as a facilitator, like his beloved Kyle Anderson. The Wolves may keep NAW just to help with the playoff run, but then they’d likely lose him for nothing next summer when they couldn’t afford to pay him.

I'm sure Dillingham will get regular season rotation minutes but wouldn't be that confident about him being in the playoff rotation. While it did work for Dallas last year most one and done rookies aren't ready for playoff basketball - especially the deep playoff basketball that Minny hopes to be playing.

[zimpy27]

My wonder is if there is a way to swing Nickeil Alexander-Walker and the Detroit FRP for a young player who is on a rookie scale contract.

Example:

MIN: Walker Kessler
OUT: Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Detroit's 2025 FRP (Protected)

UTA: X player, Detroit's 2025 FRP (Protected), and third team value
OUT: Walker Kessler

TEAM: Nickeil Alexander-Walker
OUT: X player and third team value

Being clear, the above is just a framework, I don't even think that Walker Kessler makes sense for Minnesota.


In the end, I think it makes sense to keep Nickeil Alexander-Walker. If Mike Conley goes down, he is desperately needed to fill those minutes (Donte Divincenzo sliding into the starting role). I don't see a good reason to move him.

I like NAW, I think he's an MLE value player next UFA. I could see Denver really valuing him.

Any of their young guys of interest?

[babyjax13]

My wonder is if there is a way to swing Nickeil Alexander-Walker and the Detroit FRP for a young player who is on a rookie scale contract.

Example:

MIN: Walker Kessler
OUT: Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Detroit's 2025 FRP (Protected)

UTA: X player, Detroit's 2025 FRP (Protected), and third team value
OUT: Walker Kessler

TEAM: Nickeil Alexander-Walker
OUT: X player and third team value

Being clear, the above is just a framework, I don't even think that Walker Kessler makes sense for Minnesota.


In the end, I think it makes sense to keep Nickeil Alexander-Walker. If Mike Conley goes down, he is desperately needed to fill those minutes (Donte Divincenzo sliding into the starting role). I don't see a good reason to move him.

It obviously depends on the third team and what they can send, but in principle the Detroit 1st + two quality 2nds (i.e., project to likely be in the 30s) seems reasonable. I just don't think Kessler would be thrilled to backup Rudy, and he's really too good to be limited to 14-18 minutes per game.

[jayu70]

With Keita Bates-Diop added to the deal, the Wolves need to move a contract to get down to 15 roster spots, so a team that has a big enough TPE and a little incentive could have an edge.

I think the teams with active TPE’s that can absorb NAW’s $4,312,500 are:

ATL, BRK, CHI, DAL, DEN, MEM, MIA, NOP, NYK, POR, SAC, TOR, WAS and of course DET.

Hawks are currently $1.2 million below the Luxury tax and a full roster. They won't go over the tax for such a trade and they also have a plethora of guards.

[shrink]

I like NAW, I think he's an MLE value player next UFA. I could see Denver really valuing him.

Any of their young guys of interest?

I agree with you - he would be a godsend for DEN! A young, cheap vet who wants to go defend opponent’s best perimeter player? The kid who can get so skinny on screens that he led the NBA in screen navigation? A guy who has had great success defending his cousin, SGA?

I just wonder what it would take for Connelly to risk filling one of DEN’s biggest holes, if they had to face them in the playoffs?

[shrink]

PG: Conley (30) | DDV (18)
SG: Ant (41) | DDV (7)
SF: McD (32) | NAW (16)
PF: Randle (38) | Naz (10)
C : Gobert (34) | Naz (14)

I think NAW still has a role

I like your rotation, but Connelly is very committed to giving Dillingham minutes right away, and Finch is excited about using Ingles as a facilitator, like his beloved Kyle Anderson. The Wolves may keep NAW just to help with the playoff run, but then they’d likely lose him for nothing next summer when they couldn’t afford to pay him.

I'm sure Dillingham will get regular season rotation minutes but wouldn't be that confident about him being in the playoff rotation. While it did work for Dallas last year most one and done rookies aren't ready for playoff basketball - especially the deep playoff basketball that Minny hopes to be playing.

I agree with you too, and I get a few brickbats on my MIN board because I’m not drinking the Kool-Ade on Dillingham yet, since rookies are rarely positive players, especially under-sized rookies taken later in the lottery in a weaker draft.

That said, Tim Connelly thinks a little differently than me. He believes that it is important to get your high end rookies as much experience as possible in high stress, game-winning situations like playoffs, to have them develop properly. He wants them playing with the best players even if they aren’t ready because he believes these early experiences magnify the ceiling later on. He even intimated that the previous Wolves brain trust didn’t do a young Towns any favors by starting his career with years of young players and living in the lottery. Everything we’ve heard out of Connelly and Finch is that they are going to throw Dillingham into the fire on Day One.

Personally, I’m not sure this is the right plan, and maybe the addition of DiVincenzo will make this less of a necessity behind Mike Conley. It certainly isn’t the plan the most coaches and GMs use, particularly contenders. MIN also didn’t do that for their lower end prospects, like Josh Minott or Leonard Miller. However, Connelly is repeating the same things he said when he played Ant a ton of minutes, and let him make mistakes his first half a year. I guess the question will be that with DiVincenzo on the team now, does Connelly still see Dillingham closer to Ant to take that path, or closer to Minott and Miller?

[wolves_89]

With Keita Bates-Diop added to the deal, the Wolves need to move a contract to get down to 15 roster spots, so a team that has a big enough TPE and a little incentive could have an edge.

I think the teams with active TPE’s that can absorb NAW’s $4,312,500 are:

ATL, BRK, CHI, DAL, DEN, MEM, MIA, NOP, NYK, POR, SAC, TOR, WAS and of course DET.

It seems pretty likely that the Wolves will waive PJ Dozier to get down to 15 roster spots (he is only guaranteed around $500k). My guess is a NAW trade is much more likely at the trade deadline than before the season. At that point, the minute distribution will be clearer and Shannon/Minott might have proven ready for rotation minutes. I also think that it is more likely some team with a glaring need for wing defense would be willing to overpay for NAW at the deadline.

[shrink]

With Keita Bates-Diop added to the deal, the Wolves need to move a contract to get down to 15 roster spots, so a team that has a big enough TPE and a little incentive could have an edge.

I think the teams with active TPE’s that can absorb NAW’s $4,312,500 are:

ATL, BRK, CHI, DAL, DEN, MEM, MIA, NOP, NYK, POR, SAC, TOR, WAS and of course DET.

It seems pretty likely that the Wolves will waive PJ Dozier to get down to 15 roster spots (he is only guaranteed around $500k). My guess is a NAW trade is much more likely at the trade deadline than before the season. At that point, the minute distribution will be clearer and Shannon/Minott might have proven ready for rotation minutes. I also think that it is more likely some team with a glaring need for wing defense would be willing to overpay for NAW at the deadline.

You’re right. Simply waiving Dozier is the most likely play, but when you are as far over the lux as MIN, even $500k of dead money isn’t preferable. This provides a little more incentive for them to make a deal now, and may mean a slightly lower offer from a trade partner would be accepted now, rather than after they waived Dozier. If trading NAW is really on the schedule, it might be better to do it now for financial reasons, plus NAW’s value may drop by the deadline if DiVincenzo is cannibalizing his minutes.

[shrink]

DEN looks like a perfect (and dangerous for MIN!) fit for Alexander-Walker. They know how valuable defenders like Bruce Brown and KCP are with their line up, and NAW might still give Jamal Murray nightmares from the playoffs. But a deal with DEN is dangerous for MIN, and the Nuggets really don’t have much to offer to justify the risk.

What other teams need a NAW? In a nutshell, he’s 6-5, 26, a bargain at $4.3 mil, but he’s an expiring and can’t be extended. He was elite at getting through screens, and shot 39.1% 3P last season. I think he’d fit best with a win-now team that needs perimeter defense, guard depth, and could use his Bird rights to keep him on a new deal. What other teams fit that description?

[chrbal]

DEN looks like a perfect (and dangerous for MIN!) fit for Alexander-Walker. They know how valuable defenders like Bruce Brown and KCP are with their line up, and NAW might still give Jamal Murray nightmares from the playoffs. But a deal with DEN is dangerous for MIN, and the Nuggets really don’t have much to offer to justify the risk.

What other teams need a NAW?

Lakers or Bucks could really use him, but I don’t know what the individual trades would be.

Clippers would be interesting, but I don’t know who takes Hyland.

Kings might do McDaniels/pick for him just for the slight upgrade.

These are just guesses