Trade Talk (Part 17): Early Offseason Planning

[moss_is_1]

Ok, this might be an incredibly embarrassing idea, but I’ve been wondering how aggressive HOU gets at consolidating if SAS steps in and gets Kevin Durant. On draft night ..

HOU GETS: Julius Randle
MIN GETS: Jabari Smith + Reed Sheppard + Jock Londale + $2 mil in payroll relief

WHY HOU MIGHT: The Rockets were a good defensive team last year, but only 12th in OFF RTG. They start 6-6 Dillon Brooks at PF. They drafted Jabari Smith and Sheppard very highly, but neither start - Sheppard is deeply buried. These players have upside, but are very expensive from their high picks, and Jabari needs a new contract, Are they ready to abandon their lottery picks in exchange for cleaner books, and a starter? This also steals from a western contender.

WHY MIN MIGHT: They gamble that one of these two lottery picks is going to pay off. Sheppard might become the PG we need, Jabari continues as a back up PF behind Naz, and Londale is useful as a back up center. Maybe allows us to keep NAW.

Conley, Sheppard, Dillingham. (And Conley gradually fades out after this year)
Ant, DiVincenzo, Clark
McDaniels, NAW, TSJ
Naz, Jabari, LMiller
Gobert, Londale, Garza

On the downside, these guys are expensive Sheppard ($10.6, Jabari $12.3) , and it gives us 13 guys that need minutes. However, it could lead to a good young group around Ant in two years. Maybe we ship off TSJ and Clark for future late picks.

I would love it, but im not sure Houston would be willing to move off Sheppard so fast. Funny enough, Reeds game kind of reminded me of Conley coming out.

[shrink]

Ok, this might be an incredibly embarrassing idea, but I’ve been wondering how aggressive HOU gets at consolidating if SAS steps in and gets Kevin Durant. On draft night ..

HOU GETS: Julius Randle
MIN GETS: Jabari Smith + Reed Sheppard + Jock Londale + $2 mil in payroll relief

WHY HOU MIGHT: The Rockets were a good defensive team last year, but only 12th in OFF RTG. They start 6-6 Dillon Brooks at PF. They drafted Jabari Smith and Sheppard very highly, but neither start - Sheppard is deeply buried. These players have upside, but are very expensive from their high picks, and Jabari needs a new contract, Are they ready to abandon their lottery picks in exchange for cleaner books, and a starter? This also steals from a western contender.

WHY MIN MIGHT: They gamble that one of these two lottery picks is going to pay off. Sheppard might become the PG we need, Jabari continues as a back up PF behind Naz, and Londale is useful as a back up center. Maybe allows us to keep NAW.

Conley, Sheppard, Dillingham. (And Conley gradually fades out after this year)
Ant, DiVincenzo, Clark
McDaniels, NAW, TSJ
Naz, Jabari, LMiller
Gobert, Londale, Garza

On the downside, these guys are expensive Sheppard ($10.6, Jabari $12.3) , and it gives us 13 guys that need minutes. However, it could lead to a good young group around Ant in two years. Maybe we ship off TSJ and Clark for future late picks.

I would love it, but im not sure Houston would be willing to move off Sheppard so fast. Funny enough, Reeds game kind of reminded me of Conley coming out.

Some on the Trade Board are talking $25-30 mil for Jabari next year, which scares the hell out of me.

[moss_is_1]

Ok, this might be an incredibly embarrassing idea, but I’ve been wondering how aggressive HOU gets at consolidating if SAS steps in and gets Kevin Durant. On draft night ..

HOU GETS: Julius Randle
MIN GETS: Jabari Smith + Reed Sheppard + Jock Londale + $2 mil in payroll relief

WHY HOU MIGHT: The Rockets were a good defensive team last year, but only 12th in OFF RTG. They start 6-6 Dillon Brooks at PF. They drafted Jabari Smith and Sheppard very highly, but neither start - Sheppard is deeply buried. These players have upside, but are very expensive from their high picks, and Jabari needs a new contract, Are they ready to abandon their lottery picks in exchange for cleaner books, and a starter? This also steals from a western contender.

WHY MIN MIGHT: They gamble that one of these two lottery picks is going to pay off. Sheppard might become the PG we need, Jabari continues as a back up PF behind Naz, and Londale is useful as a back up center. Maybe allows us to keep NAW.

Conley, Sheppard, Dillingham. (And Conley gradually fades out after this year)
Ant, DiVincenzo, Clark
McDaniels, NAW, TSJ
Naz, Jabari, LMiller
Gobert, Londale, Garza

On the downside, these guys are expensive Sheppard ($10.6, Jabari $12.3) , and it gives us 13 guys that need minutes. However, it could lead to a good young group around Ant in two years. Maybe we ship off TSJ and Clark for future late picks.

I would love it, but im not sure Houston would be willing to move off Sheppard so fast. Funny enough, Reeds game kind of reminded me of Conley coming out.

Some on the Trade Board are talking $25-30 mil for Jabari next year, which scares the hell out of me.

Just looking at his numbers, that seems like a massive overpay and would be hoping for a lot of improvement. Maybe he could up his value and be flipped at the deadline to a younger team who's willing to roll the dice.

[Klomp]

I would love it, but im not sure Houston would be willing to move off Sheppard so fast. Funny enough, Reeds game kind of reminded me of Conley coming out.

Some on the Trade Board are talking $25-30 mil for Jabari next year, which scares the hell out of me.

Just looking at his numbers, that seems like a massive overpay and would be hoping for a lot of improvement. Maybe he could up his value and be flipped at the deadline to a younger team who's willing to roll the dice.

That's not too far off of Jaden's range, which I'd argue is pretty fair.

[Domejandro]

I can't imagine Houston going for that (Julius Randle is a clunky fit on that roster), but if it is on the table, that is a no-brainer.

[minimus]

Read on Twitter

Would you trade Reid (sign-and-trade) for Lonzo Ball and Jalen Smith?

Gobert/Smith/???
Randle/???/Miller
McDaniels/TJ/Minott
Edwards/DDV/Clark
Ball/Rob/Conley

[lewdog]

Read on Twitter

Would you trade Reid (sign-and-trade) for Lonzo Ball and Jalen Smith?

Gobert/Smith/???
Randle/???/Miller
McDaniels/TJ/Minott
Edwards/DDV/Clark
Ball/Rob/Conley

Let this sink in, Ball has played in 35 games since 2022. And in the '21-'22 season he played 35 games.
We're not that team anymore that takes flyers on other teams "used-to-be" good player (i.e.Brandon Roy).
IMHO, Reid is the most popular Wolf since KG. There is no way, we would consider this.

[moss_is_1]

Wonder if we are working on a Durant deal being a 3 team where we can get a center back for trading Rudy?

Nic Claxton is the most logical player that would be available. Maybe Gafford, Jakob Poetel(if they're drafting Maluach).

[Norseman79]

Wonder if we are working on a Durant deal being a 3 team where we can get a center back for trading Rudy?

Nic Claxton is the most logical player that would be available. Maybe Gafford, Jakob Poetel(if they're drafting Maluach).

Naz for Claxton? How does that value line up? (Genuinely asking)

[moss_is_1]

Wonder if we are working on a Durant deal being a 3 team where we can get a center back for trading Rudy?

Nic Claxton is the most logical player that would be available. Maybe Gafford, Jakob Poetel(if they're drafting Maluach).

Naz for Claxton? How does that value line up? (Genuinely asking)

I think Naz is a pretty significantly better player. Him being a current free agent might impact that, but maybe not.

I also think the Wolves are not making Naz available, along with Ant, Jaden and Rob.

[jpatrick]

Wonder if we are working on a Durant deal being a 3 team where we can get a center back for trading Rudy?

Nic Claxton is the most logical player that would be available. Maybe Gafford, Jakob Poetel(if they're drafting Maluach).

Naz for Claxton? How does that value line up? (Genuinely asking)

I think Naz is a pretty significantly better player. Him being a current free agent might impact that, but maybe not.

I also think the Wolves are not making Naz available, along with Ant, Jaden and Rob.

I agree with Naz, Jaden, and Naz. They came in the same year and have been noted in the media as not available. I think Dillingham would be gone in a second if he was the hold up in a Durant trade. Personally, I value him about the same as the 17th picked, but I’m guessing TC thinks more highly of him.

[Domejandro]

To be super clear again, Naz Reid is not picking up his Player Option to be traded, and teams are not trading significant value for the privilege of signing Naz Reid at his highest market-value. Minnesota can’t sign-and-trade players prior to free-agency.

I’ve said this previously, but there is a HUGE disconnect on this forum for what sign-and-trades look like.

[ReggiesKnicks]

To be super clear again, Naz Reid is not picking up his Player Option to be traded, and teams are not trading significant value for the privilege of signing Naz Reid at his highest market-value.

I’ve said this previously, but there is a HUGE disconnect on this forum for what sign-and-trades look like.

You guys have one of the most active boards on here.

Nic Claxton isn't a positive value contract, so while Reid could acquire Claxton, I am not sure why your team would want Nic Claxton.

[moss_is_1]

To be super clear again, Naz Reid is not picking up his Player Option to be traded, and teams are not trading significant value for the privilege of signing Naz Reid at his highest market-value.

I’ve said this previously, but there is a HUGE disconnect on this forum for what sign-and-trades look like.

You guys have one of the most active boards on here.

Nic Claxton isn't a positive value contract, so while Reid could acquire Claxton, I am not sure why your team would want Nic Claxton.

I just mentioned Claxton as a possible trade candidate if we are dangling Rudy in Durant deal. I don't love Claxton, and think hes pretty limited overall like a worse version of Rudy. But we cant deal Rudy without finding a starting level center back(I dont want to watch the layup line if Naz is starting at the 5).

[jscott]

Claxton could be alright but tbh I’d rather find a way to keep Rudy if we add Durant. I know that’s tough with caps but I think Rudy’s a big part of our success.

[Norseman79]

To be clear, the rumor is Rudy, DD, and Dilly for KD....not hearing picks or anything else, correct?

So

PG - ????, Mike
SG - Ant, Clark
SF - McDaniels, TSJr
PF - Durant, Randle, Reid
C. - ????, ????

(I didn't include guys like Miller, Minott, Garza etc...)

If the above is true, we need to move Randle and/or Naz, and we really need a legit starting C and PG.

[Kineto]

I don't understand why we should move Rudy to get Durant, unless Phoenix absolutely want him and no other trade is possible.

Rudy is currently the backbone of Minnesota's defence. The problem with Rudy is that the offence is so poor with him that Finch can't give him extended minutes in the playoffs.

But with a KD/Ant pairing, the offence will look much better, even with Rudy in the line-up.

I would guess that the defence would suffer much more from Rudy's absence than the offence would from his presence alongside a KD/Ant duo.

[BlacJacMac]

I don't understand why we should move Rudy to get Durant, unless Phoenix absolutely want him and no other trade is possible.

Rudy is currently the backbone of Minnesota's defence. The problem with Rudy is that the offence is so poor with him that Finch can't give him extended minutes in the playoffs.

But with a KD/Ant pairing, the offence will look much better, even with Rudy in the line-up.

I would guess that the defence would suffer much more from Rudy's absence than the offence would from his presence alongside a KD/Ant duo.

That's probably why. Randle doesn't really make sense for them, and they're desperate for defense.

[cmoss84]

*1st trade*
Rudy/DD/RD for KD

*2nd trade*
Nets give up #36 for an expiring Duncan Robinson and give Garza an audition.
Miami unloads two bad contracts (Robinson and Rozier) while receiving Randle and #31/#36. The price they pay: Mr. Ware.
Minnesota takes on a year of Conley/Rozier while finding a replacement (#17). Ware takes over at center after Rudy is traded to Suns.

Mike/Rozier/#17
Ant/Clark
Jaden/TSJ
KD/Naz
Ware/Naz

[cmoss84]

Last one until the season starts! I promise! The money is slightly off, but you'll get the idea of the framework.

Nets: Have to start somewhere, so they roll the dice on Beal. They get a couple of young, cost-controlled players as well.
Suns: Ecstatic to have relief from Beal's contract, the Suns add two dynamic, yet highly risky players to balance out their roster.
Pelicans: New Orleans has seen enough of Zion, and add a similar player to run in their system. They get decent value for Missi, and ultimately help themselves in the short and long terms.
Timberwolves: Get outstanding value for Rudy, Randle, and #17/#31. They also cut enough pay roll to extend Naz.

Nets IN: Bradley Beal, Brandon Boston Jr., and Oso Ighodaro (1st apron)

Pelicans IN: Randle, Garza, #17, #31 (1st apron)
OUT: Zion, Missi, Alvarado
Murray/CJ/Murphy III/Jones/Olynyk/Randle/FA C

Suns IN: Rudy and Zion (2nd apron)
OUT: KD, Beal, Oso Ighodaro
Allen/Booker/O'Neale/Zion/Rudy

Timberwolves IN: KD, Alvarado, Missi
OUT: Rudy, Randle, Garza, #17/#31
Mike/Alvarado/RD
Ant/DD/Clark
Jaden/Naz/TSJ
KD/Naz
Missi/Naz