Kevin Durant

[winforlose]

Yes because nothing screams NBA championship run like not one but two rotational rookies, 2 or more rotational sophomores, and the two guys who struggled last season (Mike and Rudy.) You remember how Denver went from a real threat to last years pushovers, they got younger but not better. Too much depth loss, not enough talent addition, and no real hope moving forward.

Trading Dlo for Mike meant losing the ability to work with the salary slot. It was the unsung casualty of that trade. To compensate we overpaid for Dilly. Now we are selling low on Dilly and betting the farm on playing even less consistent PG minutes. KD is a luxury we cannot afford. We badly need a legit starting PG and a legit backup C. If we move Rudy, then we need to retool and get a legit starting C and a legit backup C.

Assume that Julius Randle picks up his Player-Option, what is your proposed pathway to accomplishing all of those things? Tyus Jones is equally viable in either scenario, so we will assume that he finds an offer elsewhere, Additionally, even if Minnesota keeps Rob Dillingham, there is a solid chance that he is a net-negative on the court. What is the realistic pathway to improving the team, or are you banking entierly on internal improvement? Keep in mind that, even if Naz Reid walks, Minnesota is a tax-paying team.

With Kevin Durant, you accomplish the goal of getting a real secondary scorer next to Anthony Edwards at a relatively affordable cost. Assuming Minnesota doesn't do that, what is the pathway to improving the following roster..?

Mike Conley / Rob Dillingham
Anthony Edwards / Donte DiVincenzo / Jaylen Clark
Jaden McDaniels / Terrence Shannon Jr.
Julius Randle (PO) / Leonard Miller
Rudy Gobert / Luka Garza (TO)

RFA: Josh Minott (could just pick-up his option)
FA: Naz Reid, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Joe Ingles
Picks: #17 and #31

I want a clear strategy for how Minnesota improves that roster in your view. Does Minnesota bring back all of their free-agents and go back into the Second Apron (I think that isn't a real strategy, you probably have to pick between Naz and NAW). What trade realistically exists for Julius Randle that improves the on-the-court product, or do you just run it back?

This is a great question. I have spent the last couple of weeks asking myself this daily. The simple answer is I am not sure. I have list of trade targets I think would really help us, but I am not sure how viable any of them are. I will list a few below, but please not this not a comprehensive list, and I am not sure I can give one before the draft (need to see how other trades shake out.)

1. Randle out Coby White and more in. Coby White plus Ant Edwards is a great offensive pairing. The downside is Ant is known for taking plays off defensively and White is not an A+ defender. That said Rudy or a defensive rim protector big can make up for some of this. Meanwhile White is a better threat from deep, has a better handle, and fills a position of need.

2. Jose Alvarado for Minott, 31, and maybe a 32 second. Assuming we can use last years numbers before the draft (I don’t remember if it works that way.) Alvarado is undersized but plays little ninja defense and can floor space. A rotation of White/Alvardo/Conley seems solid.

3. Dilly out alongside NAW for a first from Orlando and salary relief.

4. Use 17 to draft a backup big, and use the taxpayer MLE to sign the best combo 4/5 available.

White/Alvarado/Conley
Ant/DDV/Clark
McDaniels/TSJ/Clark
Reid/?/Miller
Gobert/17/?

I would consider trading Rudy but only for good value back. I am hoping the tax payer MLE is a ring chaser who provides good value. We won’t be lucky enough to get Steven Adams, but there will probably be a talented big who we can grab.

Another possible trade would include Randle to Houston and Jabari Smith JR to the Wolves. I would be down for sending them DDV as well, keeping NAW, and trying to include a 3rd team.

P.S. under no circumstances would I accept or consider accepting Lonzo Ball. I consider acquiring him to be a fireable offense by any GM regardless of team.

[Domejandro]

This is a great question. I have spent the last couple of weeks asking myself this daily. The simple answer is I am not sure. I have list of trade targets I think would really help us, but I am not sure how viable any of them are. I will list a few below, but please not this not a comprehensive list, and I am not sure I can give one before the draft (need to see how other trades shake out.)

1. Randle out Coby White and more in. Coby White plus Ant Edwards is a great offensive pairing. The downside is Ant is known for taking plays off defensively and White is not an A+ defender. That said Rudy or a defensive rim protector big can make up for some of this. Meanwhile White is a better threat from deep, has a better handle, and fills a position of need.

2. Jose Alvarado for Minott, 31, and maybe a 32 second. Assuming we can use last years numbers before the draft (I don’t remember if it works that way.) Will edit to add.

For what it is worth, I would be open to swapping Julius Randle for Coby White. I think Chicago would probably decline (Patrick Williams + a lot of forward/center glut), but if that's on the table, Minnesota should consider it. I just find it unlikely that they jump for it.

Otherwise, Point-Guard is definitely the huge problem. I really think that Minnesota needs an elite Point-Guard, but it feels like all of them (even the "good" ones) are pretty much locked down or too expensive. Maybe Immanuel Quickley? He is making $32.5MM for four more years (which is a little scary), and I'm honestly not sure if Toronto is looking to dump him (Masai Ujiri is a bit weird with holding on to players he likes). Obviously players like LaMelo Ball and Trae Young are probably out of Minnesota's price range (and their contracts are tough for Minnesota's current construction). Another component is that other teams, primarily Orlando, are going to be BIG time hunting for Point-Guards this off-season.

Minnesota honestly got super hosed by the Second Apron happening after the Rudy Gobert trade. I still fully defend the trade because it's clearly been worth it just to supercharge Anthony Edwards' development (I will forever maintain that it was an overpay by one FRP), but the Second Apron badly limited what Minnesota could get back in follow-up trades for Karl-Anthony Towns.

EDIT: (Read the rest.) Honestly, it isn't a bad plan at all if Chicago was willing to do that trade, but when I look at that roster, I see "Second Round Exit" written all over it, if I'm being honest.

P.S. under no circumstances would I accept or consider accepting Lonzo Ball. I consider acquiring him to be a fireable offense by any GM regardless of team.

Is this just a health-related thing (assuming that you didn't mix up the brothers)? I know that his shooting splits are vile, but as a back-up, his impact-stats are honestly insane. I would be open to taking him (not as a starter) if it's functionally for free as a salary filler.

[BlacJacMac]

Is this just a health-related thing (assuming that you didn't mix up the brothers)? I know that his shooting splits are vile, but as a back-up, his impact-stats are honestly insane. I would be open to taking him (not as a starter) if it's functionally for free as a salary filler.

I love the shooting!

Last year was rough, but he was coming off missing 2 years and still finished the year at 34% from 3.

But his previous 3 years he was at:

2019-20: 38% on 6.3 3PA
2020-21: 38% on 8.3 3PA
2021-22: 42% on 7.4 3PA

I would not going into the year counting on him as my starter, but if we can cheaply get him, he's an amazing fit for this team.

[winforlose]

This is a great question. I have spent the last couple of weeks asking myself this daily. The simple answer is I am not sure. I have list of trade targets I think would really help us, but I am not sure how viable any of them are. I will list a few below, but please not this not a comprehensive list, and I am not sure I can give one before the draft (need to see how other trades shake out.)

1. Randle out Coby White and more in. Coby White plus Ant Edwards is a great offensive pairing. The downside is Ant is known for taking plays off defensively and White is not an A+ defender. That said Rudy or a defensive rim protector big can make up for some of this. Meanwhile White is a better threat from deep, has a better handle, and fills a position of need.

2. Jose Alvarado for Minott, 31, and maybe a 32 second. Assuming we can use last years numbers before the draft (I don’t remember if it works that way.) Will edit to add.

For what it is worth, I would be open to swapping Julius Randle for Coby White. I think Chicago would probably decline (Patrick Williams + a lot of forward/center glut), but if that's on the table, Minnesota should consider it. I just find it unlikely that they jump for it.

Otherwise, Point-Guard is definitely the huge problem. I really think that Minnesota needs an elite Point-Guard, but it feels like all of them (even the "good" ones) are pretty much locked down or too expensive. Maybe Immanuel Quickley? He is making $32.5MM for four more years (which is a little scary), and I'm honestly not sure if Toronto is looking to dump him (Masai Ujiri is a bit weird with holding on to players he likes). Obviously players like LaMelo Ball and Trae Young are probably out of Minnesota's price range (and their contracts are tough for Minnesota's current construction). Another component is that other teams, primarily Orlando, are going to be BIG time hunting for Point-Guards this off-season.

Minnesota honestly got super hosed by the Second Apron happening after the Rudy Gobert trade. I still fully defend the trade because it's clearly been worth it just to supercharge Anthony Edwards' development (I will forever maintain that it was an overpay by one FRP), but the Second Apron badly limited what Minnesota could get back in follow-up trades for Karl-Anthony Towns.

EDIT: (Read the rest.) Honestly, it isn't a bad plan at all if Chicago was willing to do that trade, but when I look at that roster, I see "Second Round Exit" written all over it, if I'm being honest.

P.S. under no circumstances would I accept or consider accepting Lonzo Ball. I consider acquiring him to be a fireable offense by any GM regardless of team.

Is this just a health-related thing (assuming that you didn't mix up the brothers)? I know that his shooting splits are vile, but as a back-up, his impact-stats are honestly insane. I would be open to taking him (not as a starter) if it's functionally for free as a salary filler.

Of course it is health related. The best ability is availability, and this guy is never truly available. Last season he played 35 games. The last healthy season was 35, and the season before that was 55. For context 82 games a season times 5 seasons is 410 games. Of that 410 he played in 125. 125/410 = 30.49% of games. That is not a rotation player, that is a lottery ticket.

[jpatrick]

A Colby White for Randle trade is interesting. The Bulls should tank and go young around a Giddey/Buzelis (who I really like) timeline, but they are the Bulls so may still be in win-now mode. Pairing Randle with Buzelis isn’t a bad fit. They still need a rim protecting center but maybe. Most teams already have a starting PG.

My concern is more around defense and a second option. White is not a good defender. And Naz, who would be added to the starting lineup, is a bad defender. Does NAW also walk in this scenario? If so, we lose another defender. Plus, we’d have no clear #2. Randle is a borderline all-star, we don’t have another guy that could say that on the roster.

[winforlose]

A Colby White for Randle trade is interesting. The Bulls should tank and go young around a Giddey/Buzelis (who I really like) timeline, but they are the Bulls so may still be in win-now mode. Pairing Randle with Buzelis isn’t a bad fit. They still need a rim protecting center but maybe. Most teams already have a starting PG.

My concern is more around defense and a second option. White is not a good defender. And Naz, who would be added to the starting lineup, is a bad defender. Does NAW also walk in this scenario? If so, we lose another defender. Plus, we’d have no clear #2. Randle is a borderline all-star, we don’t have another guy that could say that on the roster.

1. Rudy is a borderline All-Star. His defense is game changing.

2. White on a team with Ant’s gravity is a borderline all star.

3. NAW and Dilly get sent out for a future first and salary relief in my proposal. It is one of many versions of this idea. Also note that Randle had a good contract year, but that happened last time and then he followed that up with a return to the mean. Randle is not a consistently good player, much less a great one. All his accolades came while playing in the notoriously weak Eastern Conference.

[BlacJacMac]

A Colby White for Randle trade is interesting. The Bulls should tank and go young around a Giddey/Buzelis (who I really like) timeline, but they are the Bulls so may still be in win-now mode. Pairing Randle with Buzelis isn’t a bad fit. They still need a rim protecting center but maybe. Most teams already have a starting PG.

My concern is more around defense and a second option. White is not a good defender. And Naz, who would be added to the starting lineup, is a bad defender. Does NAW also walk in this scenario? If so, we lose another defender. Plus, we’d have no clear #2. Randle is a borderline all-star, we don’t have another guy that could say that on the roster.

White is a terrible defender. And not much of a PG. You're getting a 20 PPG guy that will hit 37% of his 3s and gives you a bit more ballhandling and creation than DDV or NAW.

That's great for 13M, but do you really want to be the team that gives him 35 or 40M in 2026?

If I'm trading for Coby, its with the idea of hopefully being able to flip him for a better fitting player to a GM that overvalues PPG.

[winforlose]

A Colby White for Randle trade is interesting. The Bulls should tank and go young around a Giddey/Buzelis (who I really like) timeline, but they are the Bulls so may still be in win-now mode. Pairing Randle with Buzelis isn’t a bad fit. They still need a rim protecting center but maybe. Most teams already have a starting PG.

My concern is more around defense and a second option. White is not a good defender. And Naz, who would be added to the starting lineup, is a bad defender. Does NAW also walk in this scenario? If so, we lose another defender. Plus, we’d have no clear #2. Randle is a borderline all-star, we don’t have another guy that could say that on the roster.

White is a terrible defender. And not much of a PG. You're getting a 20 PPG guy that will hit 37% of his 3s and gives you a bit more ballhandling and creation than DDV or NAW.

That's great for 13M, but do you really want to be the team that gives him 35 or 40M in 2026?

If I'm trading for Coby, its with the idea of hopefully being able to flip him for a better fitting player to a GM that overvalues PPG.

White is the best offensive player on the Bulls. He is the focus of the defense. Put him next to Ant and see what that does for his scoring. White has never played on a true defensive team, put him on a defense first team and see him improve, (kinda like Dilly last year.) White has never had a Rudy behind him either. As for not being much of a PG, on a bad team he averaged 4.5/2.4. That is not great, but I wonder how much better that will look when not being guarded by the best POA defenders. Also we will hit more shots to improve the top number.

One more thing to consider is that Randle is worth more than just White. We might be able to get a 2nd player with some value. The question is who?

[BlacJacMac]

A Colby White for Randle trade is interesting. The Bulls should tank and go young around a Giddey/Buzelis (who I really like) timeline, but they are the Bulls so may still be in win-now mode. Pairing Randle with Buzelis isn’t a bad fit. They still need a rim protecting center but maybe. Most teams already have a starting PG.

My concern is more around defense and a second option. White is not a good defender. And Naz, who would be added to the starting lineup, is a bad defender. Does NAW also walk in this scenario? If so, we lose another defender. Plus, we’d have no clear #2. Randle is a borderline all-star, we don’t have another guy that could say that on the roster.

White is a terrible defender. And not much of a PG. You're getting a 20 PPG guy that will hit 37% of his 3s and gives you a bit more ballhandling and creation than DDV or NAW.

That's great for 13M, but do you really want to be the team that gives him 35 or 40M in 2026?

If I'm trading for Coby, its with the idea of hopefully being able to flip him for a better fitting player to a GM that overvalues PPG.

White is the best offensive player on the Bulls. He is the focus of the defense. Put him next to Ant and see what that does for his scoring. White has never played on a true defensive team, put him on a defense first team and see him improve, (kinda like Dilly last year.) White has never had a Rudy behind him either. As for not being much of a PG, on a bad team he averaged 4.5/2.4. That is not great, but I wonder how much better that will look when not being guarded by the best POA defenders. Also we will hit more shots to improve the top number.

One more thing to consider is that Randle is worth more than just White. We might be able to get a 2nd player with some value. The question is who?

He's spent most of his career playing 2nd and 3rd fiddle to LaVine and DeRozan (and Vučević!). He's almost never been the focus of any team's defense.

And Chicago's defense craters when he's in the game. He's always been a terrible defender. He has short arms and poor lateral movement. He gets some steals because he does have quick hands, but that's where his defensive impact ends.

He's also pretty much exclusively a PnR passer - which is not a great fit for Finch.

[BlacJacMac]

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?s=12

[winforlose]

White is a terrible defender. And not much of a PG. You're getting a 20 PPG guy that will hit 37% of his 3s and gives you a bit more ballhandling and creation than DDV or NAW.

That's great for 13M, but do you really want to be the team that gives him 35 or 40M in 2026?

If I'm trading for Coby, its with the idea of hopefully being able to flip him for a better fitting player to a GM that overvalues PPG.

White is the best offensive player on the Bulls. He is the focus of the defense. Put him next to Ant and see what that does for his scoring. White has never played on a true defensive team, put him on a defense first team and see him improve, (kinda like Dilly last year.) White has never had a Rudy behind him either. As for not being much of a PG, on a bad team he averaged 4.5/2.4. That is not great, but I wonder how much better that will look when not being guarded by the best POA defenders. Also we will hit more shots to improve the top number.

One more thing to consider is that Randle is worth more than just White. We might be able to get a 2nd player with some value. The question is who?

He's spent most of his career playing 2nd and 3rd fiddle to LaVine and DeRozan (and Vučević!). He's almost never been the focus of any team's defense.

And Chicago's defense craters when he's in the game. He's always been a terrible defender. He has short arms and poor lateral movement. He gets some steals because he does have quick hands, but that's where his defensive impact ends.

He's also pretty much exclusively a PnR passer - which is not a great fit for Finch.

Except Lavine was out a lot of that time, DDR left a year ago, Vuc has been up and down, and White has been much improved in the last two years.

[BlacJacMac]

White is the best offensive player on the Bulls. He is the focus of the defense. Put him next to Ant and see what that does for his scoring. White has never played on a true defensive team, put him on a defense first team and see him improve, (kinda like Dilly last year.) White has never had a Rudy behind him either. As for not being much of a PG, on a bad team he averaged 4.5/2.4. That is not great, but I wonder how much better that will look when not being guarded by the best POA defenders. Also we will hit more shots to improve the top number.

One more thing to consider is that Randle is worth more than just White. We might be able to get a 2nd player with some value. The question is who?

He's spent most of his career playing 2nd and 3rd fiddle to LaVine and DeRozan (and Vučević!). He's almost never been the focus of any team's defense.

And Chicago's defense craters when he's in the game. He's always been a terrible defender. He has short arms and poor lateral movement. He gets some steals because he does have quick hands, but that's where his defensive impact ends.

He's also pretty much exclusively a PnR passer - which is not a great fit for Finch.

Except Lavine was out a lot of that time, DDR left a year ago, Vuc has been up and down, and White has been much improved in the last two years.

White looked better this year because he was playing with a real PG.

[winforlose]

He's spent most of his career playing 2nd and 3rd fiddle to LaVine and DeRozan (and Vučević!). He's almost never been the focus of any team's defense.

And Chicago's defense craters when he's in the game. He's always been a terrible defender. He has short arms and poor lateral movement. He gets some steals because he does have quick hands, but that's where his defensive impact ends.

He's also pretty much exclusively a PnR passer - which is not a great fit for Finch.

Except Lavine was out a lot of that time, DDR left a year ago, Vuc has been up and down, and White has been much improved in the last two years.

White looked better this year because he was playing with a real PG.

Giddey?

[Loaf_of_bread]

He's spent most of his career playing 2nd and 3rd fiddle to LaVine and DeRozan (and Vučević!). He's almost never been the focus of any team's defense.

And Chicago's defense craters when he's in the game. He's always been a terrible defender. He has short arms and poor lateral movement. He gets some steals because he does have quick hands, but that's where his defensive impact ends.

He's also pretty much exclusively a PnR passer - which is not a great fit for Finch.

Except Lavine was out a lot of that time, DDR left a year ago, Vuc has been up and down, and White has been much improved in the last two years.

White looked better this year because he was playing with a real PG.

C. White has limited experience in the playoffs, and his time there was not productive. Not worth taking a chance on guys like him imo.

You guys are getting off topic, and ill contribute.. i do think DDV value needs to be exploited on our end for playoff guys. Trade him.

[BlacJacMac]

Except Lavine was out a lot of that time, DDR left a year ago, Vuc has been up and down, and White has been much improved in the last two years.

White looked better this year because he was playing with a real PG.

Giddey?

Yes.

[minimus]

You guys are getting off topic, and ill contribute.. i do think DDV value needs to be exploited on our end for playoff guys. Trade him.

Bro, you are completely off topic... Malik Beasley was paid 60/4 in MIN, DDVs 12 AAV is a bargain.

[Loaf_of_bread]

You guys are getting off topic, and ill contribute.. i do think DDV value needs to be exploited on our end for playoff guys. Trade him.

Bro, you are completely off topic... Malik Beasley was paid 60/4 in MIN, DDVs 12 AAV is a bargain.

That is my point. He carries value. Need to convert it towards an asset that improves us in the postseason.

[BlacJacMac]

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[moss_is_1]

Spurs going to offer Castle, Keldon Johnson and Vassell, picks for Kd? I would've said Barnes but he makes slightly too much for Phx so had to be Vassell, unless there's a 3rd team.

[Slim Tubby]

Spurs going to offer Castle, Keldon Johnson and Vassell, picks for Kd? I would've said Barnes but he makes slightly too much for Phx so had to be Vassell, unless there's a 3rd team.

The Spurs would be crazy to abandon their roster building around Wemby by trading Castle for a 37 year old.

My guess is Castle is untouchable and any trade for KD would evolve around Vassell and Sochan.

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