Trade Talk (Part 16): Early Season Anxiety Edition

[winforlose]

I am a big Durant fan because he is a hooper, and only a hooper. There are stories that between road back to backs, when the plane lands and all the players go to their hotels, he rents out gyms to work on his game. I think Ant has some of that in him, and I think he’d be a good influence on his future.

That said, I listened to a lot of KD talk this week, and one commentator said something that disturbed me. KD seems to be following in LeBron’s footsteps, but unlike LeBron, Durant only focuses on hoops and assumes everything else will take care of itself. LeBron is more meticulous in his image, in his relationships with teammates and front offices, and works with those extra tools to manage his career. Durant’s last three stops (GSW, BRK, and probably now PHX), have ended with toxic locker rooms, and this insider suggested it is because KD does not do any relationship building.

I like the vibe that the Wolves locker room seems to have. Credit Finch and maybe Tim Connelly for bringing in good guys, but it feels like each player is happy for each other’s success, and moreso than any previous Wolves team, these guys sacrifice for each other and for the team. I still would love to see Durant here, but I have concerns now outside of just the price to bring him in.

I have a different view of both KD and the current Wolves culture.

KD left a team on the rise to go to a team that he didn’t need to lead. He became the beta to Steph’s alpha and achieved great success. IMO that moment forever tainted his legacy and disqualified him from the greatest ever conversation. He followed it up with two separate failures when called upon to be the alpha. The Nets had Kyrie and Harden and KD still couldn’t get them a chip. The Suns stacked Booker, CP3, and a nice support staff, and KD couldn’t close the deal. So they trade for Beal and get swept. KD is the guy who cannot earn it, all he can do is ride coattails. He might try Ant’s next, but that doesn’t mean he is worth the investment of talent and cap space required to let him have that attempt. If it succeeds he will get jealous of the lack of credit like he did in GS, and if it fails it will further tank his already damaged legacy. KD is a loser even when he wins.

Julius Randle might cheer loudly for Naz, but I have yet to see Randle be willing to sacrifice for the team. DDV wanted to start and looked pissed and miserable for more than half the season. Ant has repeatedly put his team on blast in the media even while acknowledging that he deliberately ignores his coach. Jaden had a terrible start to the season and we all know he is a confidence player. We have no idea if Naz or NAW will leave or if they want to leave to pursue better roles. Oh, and Rudy has been sitting at the close of games on and off this year and has made comments and shown visible frustration with the situation. They may cheer for each other, but that doesn’t mean all is well in Denmark.

[Klomp]

I think if Durant shares he wants to team up with Ant, I don't think locker room culture will become an issue. The Phoenix stuff likely has more to do with the Beal/Booker dynamic and the front office.

[minimus]

I think if Durant shares he wants to team up with Ant, I don't think locker room culture will become an issue. The Phoenix stuff likely has more to do with the Beal/Booker dynamic and the front office.

I don't believe that our current roster construction could allow to eat KD contract, but on paper he might be the best possible fit at PF next to Gobert and McDaniels.

[shrink]

So I’ll post this here since I’m not sure where else to put it.

When I was reading about the Towns trade, one piece in the Athletic mentioned that Towns tried to get Connelly to give him a verbal guarantee he wouldn’t trade him, because he wanted to stay in Minnesota. Connelly “said all the right things,” but was unwilling (probably “unable”) to agree to KAT’s request, and traded him a couple months later.

My question is: How much loyalty should Connelly show to the various players that took less to be here, with the understanding they want to be in Minnesota.

To me, we owe several of these guys. My source told me flat out that Connelly promised not to trade Mike, because it was important to Mike to not have to move his family again. Naz avoided free agency and signed a bargain deal to be here. NAW may have took less. Rudy declined a richer player option to get more years here. Both Ant and Jaden got new contracts, but didn’t get the standard player option on the end because they want to be here too.

If we were to trade for KD, simply to match his contract, we’d be forced to send out some players who took less to be here. And remember, “players that want to be here,” is not a commodity we’ve usually had in Minnesota.

[Klomp]

If we were to trade for KD, simply to match his contract, we’d be forced to send out some players who took less to be here. And remember, “players that want to be here,” is not a commodity we’ve usually had in Minnesota.

Maybe. Maybe not. We don't know what a trade concept will look like.

[winforlose]

If we were to trade for KD, simply to match his contract, we’d be forced to send out some players who took less to be here. And remember, “players that want to be here,” is not a commodity we’ve usually had in Minnesota.

Maybe. Maybe not. We don't know what a trade concept will look like.

$54,708,609. Design it any way you want. We must aggregate salary which means we would be hard capped below the 2nd apron. There is no version of this trade that does not have serious consequences to this teams future. The best version is probably Randle and Rudy for KD (approximately 67 million out and 54 in,) but then we have both KD and Naz to play PF and no one to play C. Worse, the move probably has Naz getting angry and leaving.

[guest81]

So I’ll post this here since I’m not sure where else to put it.

When I was reading about the Towns trade, one piece in the Athletic mentioned that Towns tried to get Connelly to give him a verbal guarantee he wouldn’t trade him, because he wanted to stay in Minnesota. Connelly “said all the right things,” but was unwilling (probably “unable”) to agree to KAT’s request, and traded him a couple months later.

My question is: How much loyalty should Connelly show to the various players that took less to be here, with the understanding they want to be in Minnesota.

To me, we owe several of these guys. My source told me flat out that Connelly promised not to trade Mike, because it was I portant to Mike to not have to move his family again. Naz avoided free agency and signed a bargain deal to be here. NAW may have took less. Rudy declined a richer player option to get more years here. Both Ant and Jaden got new contracts, but didn’t get the standard player option on the end because they want to be here too.

If we were to trade for KD, simply to match his contract, we’d be forced to send out some players who took less to be here. And remember, “players that want to be here,” is not a commodity we’ve usually had in Minnesota.

They had to get under the second apron. A kat trade was really the only way to do it

[guest81]

So I’ll post this here since I’m not sure where else to put it.

When I was reading about the Towns trade, one piece in the Athletic mentioned that Towns tried to get Connelly to give him a verbal guarantee he wouldn’t trade him, because he wanted to stay in Minnesota. Connelly “said all the right things,” but was unwilling (probably “unable”) to agree to KAT’s request, and traded him a couple months later.

My question is: How much loyalty should Connelly show to the various players that took less to be here, with the understanding they want to be in Minnesota.

To me, we owe several of these guys. My source told me flat out that Connelly promised not to trade Mike, because it was I portant to Mike to not have to move his family again. Naz avoided free agency and signed a bargain deal to be here. NAW may have took less. Rudy declined a richer player option to get more years here. Both Ant and Jaden got new contracts, but didn’t get the standard player option on the end because they want to be here too.

If we were to trade for KD, simply to match his contract, we’d be forced to send out some players who took less to be here. And remember, “players that want to be here,” is not a commodity we’ve usually had in Minnesota.

They had to get under the second apron. A kat trade was really the only way to do it

Also he traded Karl home to a really good team. It's not like he shipped him to the wizards

[shrink]

So I’ll post this here since I’m not sure where else to put it.

When I was reading about the Towns trade, one piece in the Athletic mentioned that Towns tried to get Connelly to give him a verbal guarantee he wouldn’t trade him, because he wanted to stay in Minnesota. Connelly “said all the right things,” but was unwilling (probably “unable”) to agree to KAT’s request, and traded him a couple months later.

My question is: How much loyalty should Connelly show to the various players that took less to be here, with the understanding they want to be in Minnesota.

To me, we owe several of these guys. My source told me flat out that Connelly promised not to trade Mike, because it was I portant to Mike to not have to move his family again. Naz avoided free agency and signed a bargain deal to be here. NAW may have took less. Rudy declined a richer player option to get more years here. Both Ant and Jaden got new contracts, but didn’t get the standard player option on the end because they want to be here too.

If we were to trade for KD, simply to match his contract, we’d be forced to send out some players who took less to be here. And remember, “players that want to be here,” is not a commodity we’ve usually had in Minnesota.

They had to get under the second apron. A kat trade was really the only way to do it

When I re-read my post, I think I wasn’t clear enough. I probably shouldn’t have included the KAT thing.

We have a group of players on our current roster that gave up something to be here, which I listed above. For instance, I feel like Connelly wouldn’t trade Mike after he promised him he wouldn’t. Is that a correct assumption, or does a GM does what he thinks is best for the team, even if it hurts a player or his reputation? What players on our roster could Connelly be the least loyal to, to add up enough salaries to get down to the first apron and salary match KD?

[cmoss84]

I'd do Rudy, DD, and picks for KD...no mas

[Klomp]

I'd do Rudy, DD, and picks for KD...no mas

You wouldn't trade Julius?

[Neeva]

I'd do Rudy, DD, and picks for KD...no mas

Too much for me, he’s too old and injury prone now,
Misses too many games to be worth it.

[cmoss84]

I'd do Rudy, DD, and picks for KD...no mas

You wouldn't trade Julius?

Yes, but I'm in minority here and think he signs long term elsewhere

[winforlose]

I'd do Rudy, DD, and picks for KD...no mas

DD is not required. If you make that move you create an extra hole and now you need yet another impact player to fix it.

Also, I don’t think you can convince Naz to stay if you bring in KD. Naz probably feels worthy of starting and probably needs to start to evolve his game. KD is not a C and small ball is a great way to lose in the modern NBA. That is why every small ball team was trying to trade for a center.

[Klomp]

I'd do Rudy, DD, and picks for KD...no mas

DD is not required. If you make that move you create an extra hole and now you need yet another impact player to fix it.

Also, I don’t think you can convince Naz to stay if you bring in KD. Naz probably feels worthy of starting and probably needs to start to evolve his game. KD is not a C and small ball is a great way to lose in the modern NBA. That is why every small ball team was trying to trade for a center.

Ant-Jaden-KD-Naz-Center

[Domejandro]

I'd do Rudy, DD, and picks for KD...no mas

You wouldn't trade Julius?

Yes, but I'm in minority here and think he signs long term elsewhere

For what it is worth, the only team currently projected to have cap space is the Brooklyn Nets, this is a really funky off-season for free-agents.

[winforlose]

You wouldn't trade Julius?

Yes, but I'm in minority here and think he signs long term elsewhere

For what it is worth, the only team currently projected to have cap space is the Brooklyn Nets, this is a really funky off-season for free-agents.

How much is Randle worth if he opts out? I imagine a sign in trade is far more likely than him signing for cap space, and I imagine he probably loses money against his current contract to get more years. I don’t see Randle as worth more 25-30 going forward, (kinda like Dlo,) and I do see his recent injury issues as being an obstacle to trying to cash in.

[Klomp]

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[guest81]

Little rumor out there that Mavs reached out to the Wolves about Luka. Would you of traded ant for luka? I think ultimately no but if they pulled the trigger i wouldn't be mad about it

[winforlose]

Little rumor out there that Mavs reached out to the Wolves about Luka. Would you of traded ant for luka? I think ultimately no but if they pulled the trigger i wouldn't be mad about it

We are one of maybe 4 or 5 teams that lack the assets to field a competitive bid. Ant is younger, healthier, and higher upside than Luka. Gobert is ineligible, and our pick depth is depleted. Jaden, Naz, and DDV is not enough for Luka at 26. We just were never a viable option.