Trade Talk (Part 16): Early Season Anxiety Edition

[fattymcgee]

Do you think that Jaylin Clark’s brief success, and the Wolves mediocrity, increase the chances that they will trade NAW?

From a GM standpoint, I could see it. NAW has been very good this season (if not lately), and he’d help a lot of teams. With his contract expiring, it’s quite possible we can’t bring him back, and we could lose him for nothing.

On the other hand, having NAW on our roster makes is a better team. Besides Ant, our three perimeter defenders each do it differently. Jaden use length, NAW uses his ability to slither around screens, and Clark likes to get into his man like Dort. Keeping NAW gives Finch three different styles of defenders to fit whoever we are trying to stop.

I love NAW but we won't resign him as things are now with the second apron (barring any trades to create space). If we can get a 1st (or a young player the FO reakly likes) I 'd trade him. If we can't get that I'd keep him for the rest of the year.

In response to winforlose . . . JUST STOP!
No one agrees with you, let it go.

[NebWolvesFan]

I still think NAW gets traded. My prediction is Toronto for Ogbaji and picks - hopefully IND 2026 first. NAW is this year's Kyle Anderson. Last year, the Wolves kept Anderson because they were in the top spot in the West. Now they are in 7th and if Minnesota wants to play Conley/Edwards/Donte/Dillingham/Clark next year, Minnesota can probably survive without NAW.

I also think Miller gets moved. Minnesota will need his roster spot next year and I will like it's easier to trade him for a player than into someone's cap space this summer - which Minnesota will likely have to add a pick. If Springer can fetch a pick, hopefully Miller can.

NAW is an Expiring 27-year old and of no value to a rebuilding team like TOR. They wouldn't trade Ogbaji straight up for NAW, let alone add picks.

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He's 26.

But yeah, Toronto is definitely the wrong team to target, except for the fact that he's Canadian. It's the win-now teams that will target him the most.

[BlacJacMac]

Read on Twitter

[Slim Tubby]

I still think NAW gets traded. My prediction is Toronto for Ogbaji and picks - hopefully IND 2026 first. NAW is this year's Kyle Anderson. Last year, the Wolves kept Anderson because they were in the top spot in the West. Now they are in 7th and if Minnesota wants to play Conley/Edwards/Donte/Dillingham/Clark next year, Minnesota can probably survive without NAW.

I also think Miller gets moved. Minnesota will need his roster spot next year and I will like it's easier to trade him for a player than into someone's cap space this summer - which Minnesota will likely have to add a pick. If Springer can fetch a pick, hopefully Miller can.

NAW is an Expiring 27-year old and of no value to a rebuilding team like TOR. They wouldn't trade Ogbaji straight up for NAW, let alone add picks.

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He's 26.

But yeah, Toronto is definitely the wrong team to target, except for the fact that he's Canadian. It's the win-now teams that will target him the most.

Agreed. He should provide plenty of value to "win now" teams including the Wolves. Sadly, we went from a team vying for a Title to a team trying to rebuild around Ant seemingly overnight.

The current pieces here simply do not fit and the ultimate return for a Top 20 player in KAT continues to decrease every single day.

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[TimberKat]

Read on Twitter

Let's get it done. NAW+Minott+2nd round picks

[Domejandro]

Read on Twitter

Let's get it done. NAW+Minott+2nd round picks

Only off by $17,000,000!

If Minnesota gets Lonzo Ball, it wil be through a Julius Randle trade. Even if Lonzo Ball gets bought-out, Minnesota cannot sign any players on the buyout market who are making more than the midlevel exception (Second Apron rule).

[cmoss84]

How about a trade that gives us Haliburton AND Ant??? And we keep Jaden, NAZ AND Rudy?!?!? Too good to be true??? Check it out.

Ind OUT: Haliburton, Jarace Walker, Johnny Furphy
Ind IN: Butler, DD, NAW, '25 SRP (Utah), '25 FRP (Det)
McConnell-Nembhard-DD-Mathurin-NAW-Butler-Nesmith-Sheppard-Siakam-Toppin-Turner
Starting 5: Nembhard/DD/Butler/Siakam/Turner

Mia OUT: Butler
Mia IN: Randle, Walker, Furphy
Rozier-Burks-Herro-Highsmith-Jovic-JJJ-Robinson-Randle-Bam-Ware
Starting 5: Rozier/Herro/Robinson/Randle/Bam

MN OUT: Randle, DD, NAW, '25 SRP (Utah), '25 FRP (Det)
MN IN: Haliburton
PG- Haliburton/Mike/RD
SG- Ant/FA/Clark/TSJ
SF- Jaden/Naz/Minott/Ingles
PF- Naz/FA/Miller
C- Rudy/FA/Garza
Starting 5: Haliburton/Ant/Jaden/Naz/Rudy

[shangrila]

I don't know nothing about about Hali downfall, but is it possible that IND will trade him because of new CBA rules if he continues to struggle and gets injured? I mean not for draft pick haul, but expiring and a few assets?

One of the biggest advantages for us to keep Anthony Edwards in Minnesota is because Anthony Edwards wants to be in Minnesota.

I think Ant is already a better player than Haliburton, and with the huge athletic gap between them, his ceiling is so much higher. But even if we were offered a superior player (say, Luka Doncic?), I am not sure MIN trades Ant because of the huge risk that the player doesn’t want to be in Minnesota and walks for nothing.

KAT wanted to stay in MIN. We even traded a league generation of FRPs for Gobert to pair with Karl to create a unique advantage. A year later, we abandon this strategy and move Karl for absolute ****.

Why did we do this? What changed following our greatest season in 20 years? Was Connelly unaware that he could review our Salary Cap structure farther than six (6) months out?

I can't think of a worse scenario for an NBA team than having your GM, on the last year of their contract, making long-term decisions for the franchise.

Tim Connelly can **** off right along with our ownership. The ultimate cost of his actions will be the loss of Ant. The road to his departure has already been paved.

With that said, I DO appreciate your efforts to remain positive. It's a rare quality these days and admirable...but sometimes a guy just needs to read the room and accept what his eyes are telling him.

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What changed? The CBA. The Gobert trade was done prior to the newest CBA.

A lot of people on this board seem unwilling to admit that they overrated KAT's value. If there were significantly better trades out there they would have been made, but there weren't. And for as good as KAT is he has an equal number of drawbacks, whether that's defensively (worst rim protector in the league this year), health or contract.

The deal was a soft reboot around Ant. The effect of it, good or bad, was always a long term thing. It can't be judged definitively at this time.

[jpatrick]

Read on Twitter

Let's get it done. NAW+Minott+2nd round picks

Only off by $17,000,000!

If Minnesota gets Lonzo Ball, it wil be through a Julius Randle trade. Even if Lonzo Ball gets bought-out, Minnesota cannot sign any players on the buyout market who are making more than the midlevel exception (Second Apron rule).

I would think this would be much more about getting off Randle’s money for next year than getting Ball the player. Ball is not good - although playing this year he is shooting 36% from the field. Maybe Ball + Jalen Smith for Randle?

[minimus]

How about a trade that gives us Haliburton AND Ant??? And we keep Jaden, NAZ AND Rudy?!?!? Too good to be true??? Check it out.

Ind OUT: Haliburton, Jarace Walker, Johnny Furphy
Ind IN: Butler, DD, NAW, '25 SRP (Utah), '25 FRP (Det)
McConnell-Nembhard-DD-Mathurin-NAW-Butler-Nesmith-Sheppard-Siakam-Toppin-Turner
Starting 5: Nembhard/DD/Butler/Siakam/Turner

Mia OUT: Butler
Mia IN: Randle, Walker, Furphy
Rozier-Burks-Herro-Highsmith-Jovic-JJJ-Robinson-Randle-Bam-Ware
Starting 5: Rozier/Herro/Robinson/Randle/Bam

MN OUT: Randle, DD, NAW, '25 SRP (Utah), '25 FRP (Det)
MN IN: Haliburton
PG- Haliburton/Mike/RD
SG- Ant/FA/Clark/TSJ
SF- Jaden/Naz/Minott/Ingles
PF- Naz/FA/Miller
C- Rudy/FA/Garza
Starting 5: Haliburton/Ant/Jaden/Naz/Rudy

Bro, are you just writing names? lol

P.S. I would love to get Hali! Or at least Nembhard

[minimus]

One of the biggest advantages for us to keep Anthony Edwards in Minnesota is because Anthony Edwards wants to be in Minnesota.

I think Ant is already a better player than Haliburton, and with the huge athletic gap between them, his ceiling is so much higher. But even if we were offered a superior player (say, Luka Doncic?), I am not sure MIN trades Ant because of the huge risk that the player doesn’t want to be in Minnesota and walks for nothing.

KAT wanted to stay in MIN. We even traded a league generation of FRPs for Gobert to pair with Karl to create a unique advantage. A year later, we abandon this strategy and move Karl for absolute ****.

Why did we do this? What changed following our greatest season in [moderator snip to fix error] months out?

I can't think of a worse scenario for an NBA team than having your GM, on the last year of their contract, making long-term decisions for the franchise.

Tim Connelly can **** off right along with our ownership. The ultimate cost of his actions will be the loss of Ant. The road to his departure has already been paved.

With that said, I DO appreciate your efforts to remain positive. It's a rare quality these days and admirable...but sometimes a guy just needs to read the room and accept what his eyes are telling him.

What changed? The CBA. The Gobert trade was done prior to the newest CBA.

A lot of people on this board seem unwilling to admit that they overrated KAT's value. If there were significantly better trades out there they would have been made, but there weren't. And for as good as KAT is he has an equal number of drawbacks, whether that's defensively (worst rim protector in the league this year), health or contract.

The deal was a soft reboot around Ant. The effect of it, good or bad, was always a long term thing. It can't be judged definitively at this time.

Can't agree more.

[frankenwolf]

How about a trade that gives us Haliburton AND Ant??? And we keep Jaden, NAZ AND Rudy?!?!? Too good to be true??? Check it out.

Ind OUT: Haliburton, Jarace Walker, Johnny Furphy
Ind IN: Butler, DD, NAW, '25 SRP (Utah), '25 FRP (Det)
McConnell-Nembhard-DD-Mathurin-NAW-Butler-Nesmith-Sheppard-Siakam-Toppin-Turner
Starting 5: Nembhard/DD/Butler/Siakam/Turner

Mia OUT: Butler
Mia IN: Randle, Walker, Furphy
Rozier-Burks-Herro-Highsmith-Jovic-JJJ-Robinson-Randle-Bam-Ware
Starting 5: Rozier/Herro/Robinson/Randle/Bam

MN OUT: Randle, DD, NAW, '25 SRP (Utah), '25 FRP (Det)
MN IN: Haliburton
PG- Haliburton/Mike/RD
SG- Ant/FA/Clark/TSJ
SF- Jaden/Naz/Minott/Ingles
PF- Naz/FA/Miller
C- Rudy/FA/Garza
Starting 5: Haliburton/Ant/Jaden/Naz/Rudy

Not too bad, except that as much as TC wanted DDV, I'm sure he's not going to turn around and trade him after 1/2 a season. One of your better, complicated trades!

[BlacJacMac]

Let's get it done. NAW+Minott+2nd round picks

Only off by $17,000,000!

If Minnesota gets Lonzo Ball, it wil be through a Julius Randle trade. Even if Lonzo Ball gets bought-out, Minnesota cannot sign any players on the buyout market who are making more than the midlevel exception (Second Apron rule).

I would think this would be much more about getting off Randle’s money for next year than getting Ball the player. Ball is not good - although playing this year he is shooting 36% from the field. Maybe Ball + Jalen Smith for Randle?

Probably a Top 5 most requested trade in this thread!

And I disagree on Ball. The shot is still coming around, but he's been fantastic for Chicago this year. They're so much better on both ends with him on the floor.

I think the trade would be about getting a "free" look at ball for the rest of the year and then being able to determine if we want to bring him back using his Bird Rights next year.

[shrink]

I don't know nothing about about Hali downfall, but is it possible that IND will trade him because of new CBA rules if he continues to struggle and gets injured? I mean not for draft pick haul, but expiring and a few assets?

One of the biggest advantages for us to keep Anthony Edwards in Minnesota is because Anthony Edwards wants to be in Minnesota.

I think Ant is already a better player than Haliburton, and with the huge athletic gap between them, his ceiling is so much higher. But even if we were offered a superior player (say, Luka Doncic?), I am not sure MIN trades Ant because of the huge risk that the player doesn’t want to be in Minnesota and walks for nothing.

KAT wanted to stay in MIN. We even traded a league generation of FRPs for Gobert to pair with Karl to create a unique advantage. A year later, we abandon this strategy and move Karl for absolute ****.

Why did we do this? What changed following our greatest season in 20 years? Was Connelly unaware that he could review our Salary Cap structure farther than six (6) months out?

I can't think of a worse scenario for an NBA team than having your GM, on the last year of their contract, making long-term decisions for the franchise.

Tim Connelly can **** off right along with our ownership. The ultimate cost of his actions will be the loss of Ant. The road to his departure has already been paved.

With that said, I DO appreciate your efforts to remain positive. It's a rare quality these days and admirable...but sometimes a guy just needs to read the room and accept what his eyes are telling him.

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Sketchy intrrnet, lost a long post.

I agree with you, KAT was more valuable with loyalty to MIN. He wouldn’t force a trade to a preferred destination

Not happy he was traded, but I can understand it with new CBA rules.

[TimberKat]

Read on Twitter

Let's get it done. NAW+Minott+2nd round picks

Only off by $17,000,000!

If Minnesota gets Lonzo Ball, it wil be through a Julius Randle trade. Even if Lonzo Ball gets bought-out, Minnesota cannot sign any players on the buyout market who are making more than the midlevel exception (Second Apron rule).

That is too bad. There is also report of Wolves keeping Randle. So would have to be JMcD or Naz going out. Or maybe we rebuild the Twin towers with Vucevic + Ball for Randle + Conley+ NWA + filler. Assuming Conley gets a coaching job with us after retirement.

[jpatrick]

He won’t say this, but no way Connelly does the Gobert trade if he knows the new CBA was coming with the severe ramifications for being in the tax/aprons. He would have rolled with what we had and while Kessler is not nearly Rudy, we would have been able to afford to keep KAT and would be better right now. But hindsight is 20-20 and we wouldn’t have, probably, had the season we had last year.

[TimberKat]

He won’t say this, but no way Connelly does the Gobert trade if he knows the new CBA was coming with the severe ramifications for being in the tax/aprons. He would have rolled with what we had and while Kessler is not nearly Rudy, we would have been able to afford to keep KAT and would be better right now. But hindsight is 20-20 and we wouldn’t have, probably, had the season we had last year.

Although many of us also has the Nico syndrome - suspecting out Star player injured too much, not worth the superMax. We are better off with a defensive minded center to win championships. So trade Towns was meant to be just a year late

[BlacJacMac]

Let's get it done. NAW+Minott+2nd round picks

Only off by $17,000,000!

If Minnesota gets Lonzo Ball, it wil be through a Julius Randle trade. Even if Lonzo Ball gets bought-out, Minnesota cannot sign any players on the buyout market who are making more than the midlevel exception (Second Apron rule).

That is too bad. There is also report of Wolves keeping Randle. So would have to be JMcD or Naz going out. Or maybe we rebuild the Twin towers with Vucevic + Ball for Randle + Conley+ NWA + filler. Assuming Conley gets a coaching job with us after retirement.

Smith + Ball for Randle is a legal trade and saves us 3.1M

McDaniels for Ball does not work financially - and we'd never do it.

Naz for Ball has us bringing back 7.4M more than allowed - and we'd never do it.

Vucevic + Ball would have to be broken into multiple trades - and I don't see a path to make it work under the aprons.

Ball + any one of Smith, Giddey, Dosunmu, Carter or Buzelis for Randle is a legal trade.

[TimberKat]

Only off by $17,000,000!

If Minnesota gets Lonzo Ball, it wil be through a Julius Randle trade. Even if Lonzo Ball gets bought-out, Minnesota cannot sign any players on the buyout market who are making more than the midlevel exception (Second Apron rule).

That is too bad. There is also report of Wolves keeping Randle. So would have to be JMcD or Naz going out. Or maybe we rebuild the Twin towers with Vucevic + Ball for Randle + Conley+ NWA + filler. Assuming Conley gets a coaching job with us after retirement.

Smith + Ball for Randle is a legal trade and saves us 3.1M

McDaniels for Ball does not work financially - and we'd never do it.

Naz for Ball has us bringing back 7.4M more than allowed - and we'd never do it.

Vucevic + Ball would have to be broken into multiple trades - and I don't see a path to make it work under the aprons.

Ball + any one of Smith, Giddey, Dosunmu, Carter or Buzelis for Randle is a legal trade.

I talk Ball + Giddey from a talent point of view but we will be the smallest team in NBA.

[Slim Tubby]

One of the biggest advantages for us to keep Anthony Edwards in Minnesota is because Anthony Edwards wants to be in Minnesota.

I think Ant is already a better player than Haliburton, and with the huge athletic gap between them, his ceiling is so much higher. But even if we were offered a superior player (say, Luka Doncic?), I am not sure MIN trades Ant because of the huge risk that the player doesn’t want to be in Minnesota and walks for nothing.

KAT wanted to stay in MIN. We even traded a league generation of FRPs for Gobert to pair with Karl to create a unique advantage. A year later, we abandon this strategy and move Karl for absolute ****.

Why did we do this? What changed following our greatest season in 20 years? Was Connelly unaware that he could review our Salary Cap structure farther than six (6) months out?

I can't think of a worse scenario for an NBA team than having your GM, on the last year of their contract, making long-term decisions for the franchise.

Tim Connelly can **** off right along with our ownership. The ultimate cost of his actions will be the loss of Ant. The road to his departure has already been paved.

With that said, I DO appreciate your efforts to remain positive. It's a rare quality these days and admirable...but sometimes a guy just needs to read the room and accept what his eyes are telling him.

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What changed? The CBA. The Gobert trade was done prior to the newest CBA.

A lot of people on this board seem unwilling to admit that they overrated KAT's value. If there were significantly better trades out there they would have been made, but there weren't. And for as good as KAT is he has an equal number of drawbacks, whether that's defensively (worst rim protector in the league this year), health or contract.

The deal was a soft reboot around Ant. The effect of it, good or bad, was always a long term thing. It can't be judged definitively at this time.

Certainly a fair point regarding the CBA. But are you saying that Connelly and the rest of the NBA had no idea of the changes coming prior to being implemented? I find that rather hard to believe, don't you?

Regardless, none of that changes the fact that we still traded away our 2nd most talented player on the roster (who loved it here) for the equivalent of a turd sandwich.

Does it really matter how other teams may have valued KAT? We are already seeing the impact of his loss this season and what his value meant to the Wolves. That's the only real "value" that matters, right?

I would've easily sacrificed Naz and NAW to keep KAT and that's even before factoring in the assets we could've received back for Reid, and to a lesser extent, with NAW.

Having an expiring GM make crucial, long-term trades and roster decisions is a fatal mistake for a franchise.

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