Charlotte & Minnesota

[ReggiesKnicks]

Charlotte Out: Miles Bridges, 2027 DAL 1st
Charlotte In: Julius Randle

Minnesota Out: Julius Randle
Minnesota In: Miles Bridges, 2027 DAL 1st

Charlotte adds a proven offensive force to help connect things instead of having 3 primary scorers in Ball/Miller/Bridges
Minnesota saves $$$ and picks up a not-so-great 1st but with variance

[Mavrelous]

It's an upgrade for CHO, but I wouldn't give up a future near unprotected 1st from a Nico Harrison run team led by Anthony Davis, post ACL Kyrie and an 18 y/o.

[ReggiesKnicks]

It's an upgrade for CHO, but I wouldn't give up a future near unprotected 1st from a Nico Harrison run team led by Anthony Davis, post ACL Kyrie and an 18 y/o.

You could swap it for something else, but I expect Dallas to be quite competitive in 2027.

2027 MIA 1st + #34 (or multiple 2nds)
Lesser of CHA/DAL 2027 1st + #34 (or multiple 2nds)

I wouldn't get too held up on the pick part.

[Mavrelous]

Both MIA and DAL picks have high potential, they have a crappy 1st next hear from the Njrikic dump, they should use it

[ReggiesKnicks]

Both MIA and DAL picks have high potential, they have a crappy 1st next hear from the Njrikic dump, they should use it

I don't think Minnesota would value that for a downgrade. You need to give up value to get a good player like Randle. My alteration already protects some of the upside.

[Texas Chuck]

Yeah Charlotte shouldn't trade a pick with this variance to do this. It's a meaningful upgrade for sure, but even in the East they are probably a play-in team at best.

Don't like it for Minny. Big downgrade offensively they can't afford for a guy I'd never want anywhere near ANT who already has his own maturity issues.

[jayjaysee]

I think it’s the ugly (worst of like 5 teams) 2026 first and 1-2 of their seconds this year? The Dallas first or Miami first have too much variance imo, even with clearing the last year of Bridges’ deal?

Charlotte has good early seconds that could help fill Minnesota’s bench while the team is so expensive..

I don’t know if 6 million saves enough money for Minn to do it though. Think they’d need to sort of like Bridges imo and they really shouldn’t.

I don’t know what team, but maybe you could ladder down Bridges contract another level? Like Bridges and 33 for Collins? Maybe something with the Clips? Or maybe I’m just off.

[Godaddycurse]

think charlotte should target gobert instead of randle

[tcheco]

Wolves downgrade for a pick while in position to compete? Sure Randle shat the bed in two games against the Thunder, but the Thunder is the better team, they should aim to find the heir to Conley, and to reshuffle the rotation players, Reid will be a FA, Dillimham didnt play a part this year, NAW will be a FA too...

I cant find a solution keeping just these 2 teams in the deal, tried playing around with the Nets as the third team

Wolves trade
Randle to Hornets
17# to Nets
DDV to Nets
Terrance to Nets

Hornets trade
Bridges to Wolves
1st rounder(the worst they have?) to Nets
Diabate to Wolves

Nets trade
Cam Johnson to Wolves

Nets land an extra pick to move up this year and another one for the future for Cam, whom wont be around when they are ready to compete.
Wolves add Cam Johnson and Bridges trying to close the gap to other teams, adding two players that had (close to) 20ppg and a backup C.
Hornets upgrade their PF position with a player that can score and also get some assists, something the team lacks outside of Ball.

potencial rotations

Wolves
Conley/Rob Dilli
Ant/NAW
Jaden/Miles Bridges
Cam Johnson/Miles Bridges
Gobert/Reid if possible, otherwise Diabate
9 man rotation, enough spacing, enough scoring, might lack a true PG considering how much we expect Conley to contribute

Hornets
Ball/Mann?
Tre Johnson?/Okogie/Josh Green
Brandon Miller/Josh Green/Salaun
Randle/Grant Williams
Mark Williams/Nurkic
Respectable starting 5, decent depth...

[ReggiesKnicks]

Wolves downgrade for a pick while in position to compete? Sure Randle shat the bed in two games against the Thunder, but the Thunder is the better team, they should aim to find the heir to Conley, and to reshuffle the rotation players, Reid will be a FA, Dillimham didnt play a part this year, NAW will be a FA too...

I cant find a solution keeping just these 2 teams in the deal, tried playing around with the Nets as the third team

Wolves trade
Randle to Hornets
17# to Nets
DDV to Nets
Terrance to Nets

Hornets trade
Bridges to Wolves
1st rounder(the worst they have?) to Nets
Diabate to Wolves

Nets trade
Cam Johnson to Wolves

Nets land an extra pick to move up this year and another one for the future for Cam, whom wont be around when they are ready to compete.
Wolves add Cam Johnson and Bridges trying to close the gap to other teams, adding two players that had (close to) 20ppg and a backup C.
Hornets upgrade their PF position with a player that can score and also get some assists, something the team lacks outside of Ball.

potencial rotations

Wolves
Conley/Rob Dilli
Ant/NAW
Jaden/Miles Bridges
Cam Johnson/Miles Bridges
Gobert/Reid if possible, otherwise Diabate
9 man rotation, enough spacing, enough scoring, might lack a true PG considering how much we expect Conley to contribute

Hornets
Ball/Mann?
Tre Johnson?/Okogie/Josh Green
Brandon Miller/Josh Green/Salaun
Randle/Grant Williams
Mark Williams/Nurkic
Respectable starting 5, decent depth...

This is really bad value for Minnesota.

[HornetJail]

i'm not trading that Dallas 1st for Randle

The 2026 1st we got from PHX (worst of WAS/PHX/ORL/MEM... would be pick #18 if it was a 2025 1st with those 4 teams, could see it around there again next year) would be a more interesting offer, but also what kind of contract is Randle getting? Is he opting in and playing on a 1-year deal? Are we extending him for multiple years beyond that? Is he opting out in favor of a long term deal?

I don't want to be stuck with Randle for any more than two years personally.

[ReggiesKnicks]

i'm not trading that Dallas 1st for Randle

The 2026 1st we got from PHX (worst of WAS/PHX/ORL/MEM... would be pick #18 if it was a 2025 1st with those 4 teams, could see it around there again next year) would be a more interesting offer, but also what kind of contract is Randle getting? Is he opting in and playing on a 1-year deal? Are we extending him for multiple years beyond that? Is he opting out in favor of a long term deal?

I don't want to be stuck with Randle for any more than two years personally.

I think Randle would extend on a very team-friendly number from his current deal.

[timeaftertime]

Zero chance the Wolves do this. The pick is simply not worth the downgrade in player. That doesn't even address the basketball fit (Bridges absolutely would clog the lane with Rudy.) or the idea of putting a problematic player on the court next to Anthony Edwards who already seems to have a pretty chaotic life off the court. Plus, while Bridges is underpaid (with good reason), he's still not some crazy value for a guy who has never really played any meaningful professional basketball.

[ReggiesKnicks]

Zero chance the Wolves do this. The pick is simply not worth the downgrade in player. That doesn't even address the basketball fit (Bridges absolutely would clog the lane with Rudy.) or the idea of putting a problematic player on the court next to Anthony Edwards who already seems to have a pretty chaotic life off the court. Plus, while Bridges is underpaid (with good reason), he's still not some crazy value for a guy who has never really played any meaningful professional basketball.

Bridges would clog the lane but Randle doesn't?

[timeaftertime]

Zero chance the Wolves do this. The pick is simply not worth the downgrade in player. That doesn't even address the basketball fit (Bridges absolutely would clog the lane with Rudy.) or the idea of putting a problematic player on the court next to Anthony Edwards who already seems to have a pretty chaotic life off the court. Plus, while Bridges is underpaid (with good reason), he's still not some crazy value for a guy who has never really played any meaningful professional basketball.

Bridges would clog the lane but Randle doesn't?

Randle is a better passer and a better three point shooter and is generally much more comfortable on the perimeter. Bridges shot 31% from three last season.

[Texas Chuck]

I think Randle would extend on a very team-friendly number from his current deal.

What AAV/length are you thinking? Ballpark obviously.

[ReggiesKnicks]

I think Randle would extend on a very team-friendly number from his current deal.

What AAV/length are you thinking? Ballpark obviously.

I think this could be available for both sides.

Minnesota could add 4 years and 150 million to his current deal. That's a lot of money for Julius Randle. Minnesota retains flexibility by only having ANT as a max contract while Julius gets paid through the remainder of his prime.

[ReggiesKnicks]

I think Randle would extend on a very team-friendly number from his current deal.

What AAV/length are you thinking? Ballpark obviously.

I admit it is hard to find a good comparison. Maybe Jrue Holidays recent extension? That was 4/134.

Desmond Bane signed 5/197 but he is significantly younger.

[shrink]

I think Randle would extend on a very team-friendly number from his current deal.

What AAV/length are you thinking? Ballpark obviously.

I think this could be available for both sides.

Minnesota could add 4 years and 150 million to his current deal. That's a lot of money for Julius Randle. Minnesota retains flexibility by only having ANT as a max contract while Julius gets paid through the remainder of his prime.

I could see it, or even a bit of a discount on this number.

Tim Connelly has been doing the impossible in MIN, getting players to take lower deals in .. Minnesota of all places! There is a good vibe with the team, and players are expressing a desire to stay here. Naz even did it two days ago. Randle has said the same thing earlier, and it feels like more than just the typical media answers. He loves Finch, and Finch’s continual defense of him when things didn’t go so well in the beginning of the season. His wife has said they love Minnesota. And Randle is the type of guy that took a pay cut before, when he was All NBA second team with the Knicks, and didn’t ask for the max, because he wanted more talent on the team to win.

Lots of indications that he would accept an extension for less than $150, but maybe only if he gets promises to stay in MIN?

[shrink]

Wolves downgrade for a pick while in position to compete? Sure Randle shat the bed in two games against the Thunder, but the Thunder is the better team, they should aim to find the heir to Conley, and to reshuffle the rotation players, Reid will be a FA, Dillimham didnt play a part this year, NAW will be a FA too...

You bring up an interesting point that the Wolves front office must be debating right now.

Randle was a key player in defeating the Lakers and the Warriors, even if they were healthy. He is a match up problem, with his power and his speed. Also, the team closed the season going 22-4 in games with Randle - he’s a valuable player.

However, he is not a good match up against OKC, and doesn’t look to become one.

So if you’re Tim Connelly, is your team goal to win as many games as possible, or to specifically build a team that can compete with the Thunder, the likely Western Conference overlord for the next five years?