MIN-DET-CHA : Randle/Harris/Stewart swap

[Kineto]

This is probably a last resort trade for Minni if they feel that Randle is a bad fit and they want to go under the 2nd apron.

MIN out : Julius Randle, DET 25 1st
MIN in : Isaiah Stewart

DET out : Tobias Harris, Isaiah Stewart
DET in : Julius Randle, Grant Williams, Cody Martin, DET 25 1st

CHA out : Grant Williams, Cody Martin
CHA in : Tobias Harris

Why for MIN : Get rid of Randle to unlock Naz Reid as a starter, and clear 18M in cap space to get back under the 2nd apron. Stewart is a good insurance behind Gobert, and can even play with him for short stretches (as he did alongside Duren last year). He seems to be a good rim protector, is young, and with a decent contract for the next 3 years.

Why for DET : They get rid of their remaining cap space, but they get back their own 25 1st pick (valuable for them because they don't have to worry about it's protection for the next 3 years, allowing them to trade some other pic), and Randle+Martin seems like a good upgrade over Harris+Stewart. And Grant Williams could even be a good backup plan next year if Randle decides to walk.

Why for CHA : They miss a PF since Williams got injured, and when they will get all their injured players back, a starting five of Ball-Miller-Bridges-Harris-Williams may be good enough to push them in play-in territory in the East.


There's probably some SRP to be sent here and there to balance the deal, but for me, it makes sense for the 3 teams.

[Domejandro]

While I think that there are interesting formats for Minnesota saving salary, I don't think that downgrading to this extent talent-wise would be good for the team, especially at the cost of the First Round Draft Pick

If you read the Minnesota forum, you would think that the team is in the dumpster, but the team is 9-4 over the past thirteen games (every game has been against a team that was above .500). Julius Randle's drive-and-kick game (sneakily one of the best in the NBA) is exceptionally important for unlocking Minnesota's offense, particularly when he plays with the second unit (Donte DiVincenzo, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Naz Reid).

[Billl]

From detroit - why is everyone trying to dump randle on us? He's 30. He doesn't defend. Does anyone honestly think that's the type of guy who really is going to help detroit build something around cade?

[Mavrelous]

I think Wolves are sticking with Randle this year and will avoid shaking the team again mid year after the shakeup in the end of the off season, but if they are to trade him, then this trade makes sense.
I think Radnle helps the Pistons, but they need a defensive center to make this work, I don't know if they can survive Randle + Duren defensively.

[oldncreaky]

From detroit - why is everyone trying to dump randle on us? He's 30. He doesn't defend. Does anyone honestly think that's the type of guy who really is going to help detroit build something around cade?

Amen

I'm yet to see a proposed trade of Stewart on TnT that is in DET's interests

[Kineto]

From detroit - why is everyone trying to dump randle on us? He's 30. He doesn't defend. Does anyone honestly think that's the type of guy who really is going to help detroit build something around cade?

He is younger than harris and with a shorter contract. If DET is all about getting young prospect, why do they signed harris this summer ?

[Billl]

From detroit - why is everyone trying to dump randle on us? He's 30. He doesn't defend. Does anyone honestly think that's the type of guy who really is going to help detroit build something around cade?

He is younger than harris and with a shorter contract. If DET is all about getting young prospect, why do they signed harris this summer ?

Well, for 1 he's got all sorts of ties to detroit and actually wants to play here and be a mentor to the young guys. He knows he's not a permanent solution and he's embracing that role.

And 2, we aren't "all about the young prospects". We purposely signed some vets who could space the floor to see if Cade (and to a lesser extend ivey) look with some average nba vets around them. The team actually looks functional with the forwards who defend and space the floor. We obviously still need a long term upgrade at the forward slots (unless ausar or holland develop a jumpshot) but randle is obviously not that.

[Jody Smokz]

The Pistons look like a legit play in team this year and Randle would jeopardize that in a real way. At the very least they should be looking to add pieces that help their core. Stewart is a great 3rd big and his on ball defense has been pretty elite.

Tobias is a mid but he's the 5th starter. Maybe Bickerstaff should play him less as other guys find more confidence. He's not hurting anything. Randle is trying to ball himself into his next deal.

[oldncreaky]

From detroit - why is everyone trying to dump randle on us? He's 30. He doesn't defend. Does anyone honestly think that's the type of guy who really is going to help detroit build something around cade?

He is younger than harris and with a shorter contract. If DET is all about getting young prospect, why do they signed harris this summer ?

Well, for 1 he's got all sorts of ties to detroit and actually wants to play here and be a mentor to the young guys. He knows he's not a permanent solution and he's embracing that role.

And 2, we aren't "all about the young prospects". We purposely signed some vets who could space the floor to see if Cade (and to a lesser extend ivey) look with some average nba vets around them. The team actually looks functional with the forwards who defend and space the floor. We obviously still need a long term upgrade at the forward slots (unless ausar or holland develop a jumpshot) but randle is obviously not that.

All true

Another huge factor: Detroit had a ton of cap space in July, and under the new CBA, had to get to the salary floor (90% of the salary cap) by opening night to qualify for receiving its share of redistributed tax payments for this season. Tobias was one of the few reasonable options.

[moss_is_1]

Wolves aren't going to downgrade that much in talent, and throw in a pick.

[zimpy27]

Idea is creative but realistically Minnesota aren't going to trade Randle unless they get far more value.

It's better for them to try work out how to fit Randle on their team. It took a year for Gobert to settle in.

[Laimbeer]

He is younger than harris and with a shorter contract. If DET is all about getting young prospect, why do they signed harris this summer ?

Well, for 1 he's got all sorts of ties to detroit and actually wants to play here and be a mentor to the young guys. He knows he's not a permanent solution and he's embracing that role.

And 2, we aren't "all about the young prospects". We purposely signed some vets who could space the floor to see if Cade (and to a lesser extend ivey) look with some average nba vets around them. The team actually looks functional with the forwards who defend and space the floor. We obviously still need a long term upgrade at the forward slots (unless ausar or holland develop a jumpshot) but randle is obviously not that.

All true

Another huge factor: Detroit had a ton of cap space in July, and under the new CBA, had to get to the salary floor (90% of the salary cap) by opening night to qualify for receiving its share of redistributed tax payments for this season. Tobias was one of the few reasonable options.

Harris stinks. There's a poll in the Piston forum asking what brand of chips we should trade him for. He doesn't play defense and he's shooting 32% from three. If we needed to throw money at somebody to reach the floor we should have made the second year a team option. Getting off of his deal would be a plus, but we'd pay to do it.

[Texas Chuck]

I'm yet to see a proposed trade of Stewart on TnT that is in DET's interests

Yeah definitely seems to fit the bill of a guy really valued by his current team that doesn't have just a ton of trade value. And using the shrink corrollary of adding value by making sure guys get to the teams where they have more value, any trade actually fails because no team will value him as much as Detroit so value just evaporates when dealing him.

[oldncreaky]

I'm yet to see a proposed trade of Stewart on TnT that is in DET's interests

Yeah definitely seems to fit the bill of a guy really valued by his current team that doesn't have just a ton of trade value. And using the shrink corrollary of adding value by making sure guys get to the teams where they have more value, any trade actually fails because no team will value him as much as Detroit so value just evaporates when dealing him.

It's mostly about direction, not value

Detroit should be accumulating under-25 players that look like rotation players. Stewart is that, and probably third in value on the roster after Cade and Ivey. Any trade proposal that starts with one of our best under-25s going out starts in the wrong direction. Even if the trade is reasonable on value, if it's the wrong direction, DET should say no.

Also, with our weak front-line, if we trade Stewart without an immediate improvement of our interior D, we effectively nuke a chance at making the play-in (which would be good for team development)

[Jody Smokz]

Randle also isn't Minnesota's primary issue on the floor. McDaniels not hitting 3s and overall not much of a scoring threat, Mike Conley being old as dirt are more glaring issues.

Idea is creative but realistically Minnesota aren't going to trade Randle unless they get far more value.

It's better for them to try work out how to fit Randle on their team. It took a year for Gobert to settle in.

[wolves_89]

Trading Randle+1st for Stewart would be a complete non-starter for Minnesota. Giving up value to get significantly worse is a strategy that gets a GM fired (and Connelly has already lost a lot of stature from the KAT trade).

[zeebneeb]

Still seeing these trades is baffling to me. Not a direct knock on the OP, but Detroits capspace is insanely valuable this season.

They are not going to waste it on an aging, erratic PF, and throw in one of their most valuable assets in Stewart as well.

The first coming back is cool, but its gonna cost 2 firsts for the cap space and Stewart.

[winforlose]

Still seeing these trades is baffling to me. Not a direct knock on the OP, but Detroits capspace is insanely valuable this season.

They are not going to waste it on an aging, erratic PF, and throw in one of their most valuable assets in Stewart as well.

The first coming back is cool, but its gonna cost 2 firsts for the cap space and Stewart.

Not advocating for or against the trade proposal, I am just curious why is the cap space “insanely valuable.” Who is Detroit looking to use it on?

[shrink]

I think Wolves are sticking with Randle this year and will avoid shaking the team again mid year after the shakeup in the end of the off season, but if they are to trade him, then this trade makes sense.

I agree, that’s the most likely scenario. This season, the Wolves sink or swim with Randle. Next season they do a sign-and-trade, where MIN receives a moderately priced rotation player and some financial breathing room.

I’ll also add that internet posters’ (including many MIN posters) view of Randle is probably much worse than the actual NBA’s.

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[Diop]

Do Detroit want Miles Bridges when he can be traded?

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