Best offers for Nickiel Alexander-Walker

[165bows]

I liked him as a bench guy in Boston (he killed them once last year) but not sure they would do it this year.

[Clav]

NAW for Xavier Tillman

[cgf]

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.

Injuries will probably happen, so I'm not sure this will be much of an issue for you.

[Godaddycurse]

NAW for Xavier Tillman

Neither team can aggregate or take back more salaries so...

[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

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.

Injuries will probably happen, so I'm not sure this will be much of an issue for you.

Ingles is fairly toast. He couldn't make the Aussie Olympics team and look at the names that did. I would only rely on him for leadership and spot minutes.

Dillingham is young, usually take a little while for a guard to come on. Of course get him reps but I wouldn't be banking on anything from him until his 3rd season. He'll get minutes in the RS but playoffs would be silly unless he's actually better than NAW or an injury happens.

[shangrila]

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's a nice idea, although threading the needle with all of the constraints is tough. Kessler probably makes the most sense honestly, given the Jazz seem willing (willing, not desperate, don't get me confused Jazz fans) to move him and the Wolves' need for a longterm Rudy replacement.

Outside of him you're looking for someone on a rookie contract that the team trading him feels is worse than NAW but that the Wolves would prefer over NAW, as well as not being a 2nd apron team nor having the rookie making even a cent more than NAW this season. I had a quick look and didn't turn up much.

I agree that they probably just keep him for now but next summer will be interesting. I'd bet good money he's gone.

[shrink]

Someone on the Wolves board mentioned interest in DayRon Sharpe as a back-up to Gobert. I have to admit, I don’t know what BRK’s plan is having just paid Claxton (25), plus Sharpe (22) and Clowney (20), so I’d appreciate some insight, plus the value difference between expiring NAW and expiring Sharpe. A trade would follow Domejandro’s format

BRK GETS: Rebuild Assets
BRK GIVES: Sharpe

MIN GETS: Sharpe
MIN GIVES: NAW

THIRD TEAM CONTENDER GETS: NAW
THIRD TEAM CONTENDER GIVES: Rebuild Assets

Important: send appropriate assets to balance this trade.


Any other 2nd or 3rd year rotation centers out there that MIN should be looking at?

[zimpy27]

Someone on the Wolves board mentioned interest in DayRon Sharpe as a back-up to Gobert. I have to admit, I don’t know what BRK’s plan is having just paid Claxton (25), plus Sharpe (22) and Clowney (20), so I’d appreciate some insight, plus the value difference between expiring NAW and expiring Sharpe. A trade would follow Domejandro’s format

BRK GETS: Rebuild Assets
BRK GIVES: Sharpe

MIN GETS: Sharpe
MIN GIVES: NAW

THIRD TEAM CONTENDER GETS: NAW
THIRD TEAM CONTENDER GIVES: Rebuild Assets

Important: send appropriate assets to balance this trade.


Any other 2nd or 3rd year centers out there besides Kessler and Sharpe that MIN should be looking at?

I still think Minny try out the Randle-Naz frontcourt to see what it's like. It could work.

[shrink]

Any other 2nd or 3rd year centers out there that MIN should be looking at?

I still think Minny try out the Randle-Naz frontcourt to see what it's like. It could work.

I think you’re right, that’s what we will see, but it may be something they are forced to do. And while MIN has many rotation-worthy players on the wings, an injury to Gobert or Randle would be very rough at center. I think Naz is too light these days.

Randle is going to have to wear a lot of hats. He may be the primary play-maker when Conley is off the floor, he may need to shoot more three’s in addition to his drives, and he may need to defend centers. That’s asking a lot.

[zimpy27]

Any other 2nd or 3rd year centers out there that MIN should be looking at?

I still think Minny try out the Randle-Naz frontcourt to see what it's like. It could work.

I think you’re right, that’s what we will see, but it may be something they are forced to do. And while MIN has many rotation-worthy players on the wings, an injury to Gobert or Randle would be very rough at center. I think Naz is too light these days.

Right, if an injury happens then you have to go hunting for a trade like this.

I think if they do trade NAW then it will be for a rotation player locked in for multiple years at a cheap price.
I just think a C on current FA market or the buyout market is more likely a target for Minny as backup.

[shrink]

I still think Minny try out the Randle-Naz frontcourt to see what it's like. It could work.

I think you’re right, that’s what we will see, but it may be something they are forced to do. And while MIN has many rotation-worthy players on the wings, an injury to Gobert or Randle would be very rough at center. I think Naz is too light these days.

Right, if an injury happens then you have to go hunting for a trade like this.

I think if they do trade NAW then it will be for a rotation player locked in for multiple years at a cheap price.
I just think a C on current FA market or the buyout market is more likely a target for Minny as backup.

Unfortunately because of the apron, they can only sign vet FA’s, and can't sign a buy out player whose previous contracts was larger than the Non-Taxpayer MLE, even if he was willing to sign in MIN for the vet min.

Your post made me realize how hard this is. MIN also can’t take back more salary than they send out, so it could be tough to find a good rotation player who makes less than NAW’s $4.3 mil. Maybe some kid on rookie scale?

[zimpy27]

I think you’re right, that’s what we will see, but it may be something they are forced to do. And while MIN has many rotation-worthy players on the wings, an injury to Gobert or Randle would be very rough at center. I think Naz is too light these days.

Right, if an injury happens then you have to go hunting for a trade like this.

I think if they do trade NAW then it will be for a rotation player locked in for multiple years at a cheap price.
I just think a C on current FA market or the buyout market is more likely a target for Minny as backup.

Unfortunately because of the apron, they can only sign vet FA’s, and can't sign a buy out player whose previous contracts was larger than the Non-Taxpayer MLE, even if he was willing to sign in MIN for the vet min.

Your post made me realize how hard this is. MIN also can’t take back more salary than they send out, so it could be tough to find a good rotation player who makes less than NAW’s $4.3 mil. Maybe some kid on rookie scale?

Yeah you'd be look at rookie scale. It is really tough.
You could still bring in FAs like McGee or Biyombo.

If Randle looks good in the new role than I actually expect Naz Reid to be traded by the deadline. Minny can't stay under 2nd apron next season if Naz is on the books. They won't keep both Randle and Naz in the offseason and given the value of both I think they will try recoup some value.

Have you thought about a Naz trade now that you have Randle at the PF?

[jscott]

Right, if an injury happens then you have to go hunting for a trade like this.

I think if they do trade NAW then it will be for a rotation player locked in for multiple years at a cheap price.
I just think a C on current FA market or the buyout market is more likely a target for Minny as backup.

Unfortunately because of the apron, they can only sign vet FA’s, and can't sign a buy out player whose previous contracts was larger than the Non-Taxpayer MLE, even if he was willing to sign in MIN for the vet min.

Your post made me realize how hard this is. MIN also can’t take back more salary than they send out, so it could be tough to find a good rotation player who makes less than NAW’s $4.3 mil. Maybe some kid on rookie scale?

Yeah you'd be look at rookie scale. It is really tough.
You could still bring in FAs like McGee or Biyombo.

If Randle looks good in the new role than I actually expect Naz Reid to be traded by the deadline. Minny can't stay under 2nd apron next season if Naz is on the books. They won't keep both Randle and Naz in the offseason and given the value of both I think they will try recoup some value.

Have you thought about a Naz trade now that you have Randle at the PF?

Naz have proven chemistry with Ant (and a similar timeline.) I would expect Randle to be the odd man out no matter how well he plays next year.

[Klomp]

What about someone like Dwight Powell in emergency situation? The PO isn't ideal, but it's also not that much.

[zimpy27]

Unfortunately because of the apron, they can only sign vet FA’s, and can't sign a buy out player whose previous contracts was larger than the Non-Taxpayer MLE, even if he was willing to sign in MIN for the vet min.

Your post made me realize how hard this is. MIN also can’t take back more salary than they send out, so it could be tough to find a good rotation player who makes less than NAW’s $4.3 mil. Maybe some kid on rookie scale?

Yeah you'd be look at rookie scale. It is really tough.
You could still bring in FAs like McGee or Biyombo.

If Randle looks good in the new role than I actually expect Naz Reid to be traded by the deadline. Minny can't stay under 2nd apron next season if Naz is on the books. They won't keep both Randle and Naz in the offseason and given the value of both I think they will try recoup some value.

Have you thought about a Naz trade now that you have Randle at the PF?

Naz have proven chemistry with Ant (and a similar timeline.) I would expect Randle to be the odd man out no matter how well he plays next year.

So then the FO made a big mistake. I don't imagine they see it this way.

I think they see Randle and Ant with playmaking and aggressiveness will be a good fit and cheaper than KAT.

Naz for Goga or Paul Reed are the kind of trades I'd be looking at with some pick compensation.

[shrink]

If Randle looks good in the new role than I actually expect Naz Reid to be traded by the deadline. Minny can't stay under 2nd apron next season if Naz is on the books. They won't keep both Randle and Naz in the offseason and given the value of both I think they will try recoup some value.

Have you thought about a Naz trade now that you have Randle at the PF?

Naz have proven chemistry with Ant (and a similar timeline.) I would expect Randle to be the odd man out no matter how well he plays next year.

So then the FO made a big mistake. I don't imagine they see it this way.

I think they see Randle and Ant with playmaking and aggressiveness will be a good fit and cheaper than KAT.

Naz for Goga or Paul Reed are the kind of trades I'd be looking at with some pick compensation.

There’s a piece of this that the national media doesn’t know. Naz Reid is the second most popular player to MIN fans. Maybe the first. People are getting tattoos with his name. Pasting pictures of his face on their shower curtains. Naming their cat after him. He has reached folklore status in Minnesota because of his story about starting at the bottom, and always surprising us with new skills after every summer because he works so hard. Glen Taylor never interferes, but he told Connelly to find a financial way to keep Naz last year. And to Naz’s credit, he’s the first player I can remember that took less to play in Minnesota. When the trade went down to bring in Randle, no one was talking about playoff chances after the best season in Timberwolves history - they were talking about just having to wait a year until they could dump Randle (even though he’s a much better player), and give his money to Naz longterm. He’s that popular.

I’m not saying your wrong, and last month I put up a poll on the Wolves board asking which of KAT, Gobert or Naz would fans prefer to cut, if the team could,only afford to pay two big men. Only two people chose Naz + NAW, and I was one of them, for the same GM reasons from the typical GM playbook. But it could be a public relations disaster for the organization to lose Naz Reid, especially if fans saw them give out money to keep Randle. MIN’s only hope of keeping Gobert, Randle and Naz probably requires Rudy extending in years, but cutting his salary, and the secondary hope that whoever owns the team next year is willing to pay lots of lux taxes.

[Klomp]

Naz for Goga or Paul Reed are the kind of trades I'd be looking at with some pick compensation.

Yeah there is next to zero chance for that.

Before the trade I might have put out an offer of Naz for DDV to be honest. I know NY likely declines, but that's arguably his worth to Minnesota.

[zimpy27]

Naz have proven chemistry with Ant (and a similar timeline.) I would expect Randle to be the odd man out no matter how well he plays next year.

So then the FO made a big mistake. I don't imagine they see it this way.

I think they see Randle and Ant with playmaking and aggressiveness will be a good fit and cheaper than KAT.

Naz for Goga or Paul Reed are the kind of trades I'd be looking at with some pick compensation.

There’s a piece of this that the national media doesn’t know. Naz Reid is the second most popular player to MIN fans. Maybe the first. People are getting tattoos with his name. Pasting pictures of his face on their shower curtains. Naming their cat after him. He has reached folklore status in Minnesota because of his story about starting at the bottom, and always surprising us with new skills after every summer because he works so hard. Glen Taylor never interferes, but he told Connelly to find a financial way to keep Naz last year. And to Naz’s credit, he’s the first player I can remember that took less to play in Minnesota. When the trade went down to bring in Randle, no one was talking about playoff chances after the best season in Timberwolves history - they were talking about just having to wait a year until they could dump Randle (even though he’s a much better player), and give his money to Naz longterm. He’s that popular.

I’m not saying your wrong, and last month I put up a poll on the Wolves board asking which of KAT, Gobert or Naz would fans prefer to cut, if the team could,only afford to pay two big men. Only two people chose Naz + NAW, and I was one of them, for the same GM reasons from the typical GM playbook. But it could be a public relations disaster for the organization to lose Naz Reid, especially if fans saw them give out money to keep Randle. MIN’s only hope of keeping Gobert, Randle and Naz probably requires Rudy extending in years, but cutting his salary, and the secondary hope that whoever owns the team next year is willing to pay lots of lux taxes.

Yeah that's good to know. In the context of the trade that just happened it seems like a Naz move given that they have a guy playing his spot to start. But yes if Randle performs poorly then they know doubt keep Naz and move Randle. It probably comes down to which looks better before deadline.

Who knows, maybe the plan is to move Randle and KAT trade was just a cost-cutting move with DDV as the prize and the longterm team is: Conley, Ant, McD, Naz, Gobert -- Dill, DDV, NAW, Miller