Trade Talk (Part 17): Early Offseason Planning

[TimberKat]

PG, CT, SF or whatever position doesn't matter to me. We just need another all star, shot creator to go with Ant. KG was better than Ant but still can't get it done by himself. We can fix position issues after that.

[winforlose]

PG, CT, SF or whatever position doesn't matter to me. We just need another all star, shot creator to go with Ant. KG was better than Ant but still can't get it done by himself. We can fix position issues after that.

That’s what Phoenix said when they acquired KD. How well did that work?

[Norseman79]

What would a trade of Julius Randle for Jonathan Kuminga look like for us? McDaniels kicks to the pf?

[Guest84]

I continuously go back and forth on Jaden. Can he be better and more consistent than he is? Does his "confidence" put a cap on his potential? Is he truly untouchable to anyone on this board like he seems to be to the wolves?

On another note, thoughts on where the Kings stand with Domantas Sabonis? If we could entice them to trade him, would anyone be opposed to it? (highly doubt they'd trade him)

[TimberKat]

PG, CT, SF or whatever position doesn't matter to me. We just need another all star, shot creator to go with Ant. KG was better than Ant but still can't get it done by himself. We can fix position issues after that.

That’s what Phoenix said when they acquired KD. How well did that work?

It's what they do after the KD trade was the issue. Beal didn't fit and eat up the cap.

[Note30]

PG, CT, SF or whatever position doesn't matter to me. We just need another all star, shot creator to go with Ant. KG was better than Ant but still can't get it done by himself. We can fix position issues after that.

That’s what Phoenix said when they acquired KD. How well did that work?

It's what they do after the KD trade was the issue. Beal didn't fit and eat up the cap.

And also they had terrible depth and basically no system and no PG.

Which would definitely be the case if we aren't careful.

[BlacJacMac]

Not considering the cost, who are the point guards that you all would consider the best fit for our roster?

Darius Garland without his 200/5 contract. In other words fully developed Rob Dillingham but on rookie contract.

So a guy who plays no defense, can't stay healthy and crumbles in the Playoffs?

I think we can do much better.

[BlacJacMac]

What would a trade of Julius Randle for Jonathan Kuminga look like for us? McDaniels kicks to the pf?

I don't want to be the team that overpays him because he looked great against us.

He only got back into their rotation because Curry got hurt and they needed bodies. It just happened that he's the exact archetype that we always struggle defending.

[Guest84]

What would a trade of Julius Randle for Jonathan Kuminga look like for us? McDaniels kicks to the pf?

I don't want to be the team that overpays him because he looked great against us.

He only got back into their rotation because Curry got hurt and they needed bodies. It just happened that he's the exact archetype that we always struggle defending.

Would Finch do a better job at developing him than Kerr? Considering the track record with Naz, Naw, Ant, and Jaden to some extent.

[jpatrick]

What would a trade of Julius Randle for Jonathan Kuminga look like for us? McDaniels kicks to the pf?

I don't want to be the team that overpays him because he looked great against us.

He only got back into their rotation because Curry got hurt and they needed bodies. It just happened that he's the exact archetype that we always struggle defending.

Would Finch do a better job at developing him than Kerr? Considering the track record with Naz, Naw, Ant, and Jaden to some extent.

I think no. Players either have basketball IQ or they don’t. Going back to the G-League, he was seen as having crazy tools but doesn’t have any idea how to play winning basketball. I think, at best, he’s a bench scorer/sixth man type. Not a guy that you put the ball in his hands like we do with Randle.

[BlacJacMac]

I don't want to be the team that overpays him because he looked great against us.

He only got back into their rotation because Curry got hurt and they needed bodies. It just happened that he's the exact archetype that we always struggle defending.

Would Finch do a better job at developing him than Kerr? Considering the track record with Naz, Naw, Ant, and Jaden to some extent.

I think no. Players either have basketball IQ or they don’t. Going back to the G-League, he was seen as having crazy tools but doesn’t have any idea how to play winning basketball. I think, at best, he’s a bench scorer/sixth man type. Not a guy that you put the ball in his hands like we do with Randle.

Right. Kuminga was struggling to play with both Curry and Butler. He sees himself as a primary scorer and tends to break both offense and defense. He scored like 24 PPG against us, but didn't really do anything to move the needle. He's a volume scorer for a bad team.

Its easy to overrate him because we get KILLED by his type. That strong and athletic combo forward that can shoot and attack a bit. ie: Kuzma, Toppin, Hachimura, etc.

Naz Reid would likely average 30 PPG against us.

[frankenwolf]

Yikes. I have no interest in paying Durant 60m per season at almost 40 years old.

We're going to have to start getting used to it as a fan base, especially if we want Anthony Edwards to retire in a Timberwolves uniform. By the time Ant gets to that age, I bet his contract will be closer to $90 million.

Kevin Durant's game has aged like fine wine. Is there risk? Of course. But we have to start being okay taking risks as a franchise if we want to be making the conference finals or better on a regular basis. If we're too scared to pay players, get ready for first round exits at best.

I'm not scared of paying players, I'm scared of paying OLD players.

[Klomp]

Yikes. I have no interest in paying Durant 60m per season at almost 40 years old.

We're going to have to start getting used to it as a fan base, especially if we want Anthony Edwards to retire in a Timberwolves uniform. By the time Ant gets to that age, I bet his contract will be closer to $90 million.

Kevin Durant's game has aged like fine wine. Is there risk? Of course. But we have to start being okay taking risks as a franchise if we want to be making the conference finals or better on a regular basis. If we're too scared to pay players, get ready for first round exits at best.

I'm not scared of paying players, I'm scared of paying OLD players.

Right....and before long, that list will include Anthony Edwards.

[TimberKat]

Not considering the cost, who are the point guards that you all would consider the best fit for our roster?

Darius Garland without his 200/5 contract. In other words fully developed Rob Dillingham but on rookie contract.

So a guy who plays no defense, can't stay healthy and crumbles in the Playoffs?

I think we can do much better.

Garland has been great all year until he was hurt in the playoffs. If we had Garland (instead of drafted Culver), we may had won an NBA title last year. At last would be in the finals.

[BlacJacMac]

Darius Garland without his 200/5 contract. In other words fully developed Rob Dillingham but on rookie contract.

So a guy who plays no defense, can't stay healthy and crumbles in the Playoffs?

I think we can do much better.

Garland has been great all year until he was hurt in the playoffs. If we had Garland (instead of drafted Culver), we may had won an NBA title last year. At last would be in the finals.

He always gets hurt. And his Playoff numbers for his career are not good. I think this was from Canis:

His Playoff numbers drop from his regular season every year. And it gets worse as they go deeper.

Garland is 2-8 in two Easter Conference Second Round Series.

34.6 MPG: 15.8 PPG (38/26/95), 5.4 APG, 2.5 TO.

In 22 career Playoff games, he's been held under 20 points 13 times.

In the other 9 games: 32, 30, 27, 23, 23, 21, 21, 21, 21.

His Playoff high for assists is 10. He did that once. He's had 4 or less 8 times.

If you care about +/-, he has 8 positive games and 15 negative ones.

[Klomp]

PG, CT, SF or whatever position doesn't matter to me. We just need another all star, shot creator to go with Ant. KG was better than Ant but still can't get it done by himself. We can fix position issues after that.

That’s what Phoenix said when they acquired KD. How well did that work?

The Suns went 8-0 in games Durant played after the midseason trade in 2022-23. Then their stupid owner pushed to trade for Bradley Beal.

[frankenwolf]

We're going to have to start getting used to it as a fan base, especially if we want Anthony Edwards to retire in a Timberwolves uniform. By the time Ant gets to that age, I bet his contract will be closer to $90 million.

Kevin Durant's game has aged like fine wine. Is there risk? Of course. But we have to start being okay taking risks as a franchise if we want to be making the conference finals or better on a regular basis. If we're too scared to pay players, get ready for first round exits at best.

I'm not scared of paying players, I'm scared of paying OLD players.

Right....and before long, that list will include Anthony Edwards.

Before long, we all die. Right now, I'm looking at the next five years and KD will be worthless in five years.

[winforlose]

Darius Garland without his 200/5 contract. In other words fully developed Rob Dillingham but on rookie contract.

So a guy who plays no defense, can't stay healthy and crumbles in the Playoffs?

I think we can do much better.

Garland has been great all year until he was hurt in the playoffs. If we had Garland (instead of drafted Culver), we may had won an NBA title last year. At last would be in the finals.

Do we have Ant if we draft Garland? I mean in this hypothetical universe, Cleveland leaves us Garland and drafts someone else. We might win more or less games, so could they. Maybe Cleveland wins the lottery and gets Ant, so someone else. Maybe GSW agree to take our pick in the Wiggins trade instead of betting everything on the Kuminga year (though it might have been protected.) The point is we don’t know what else changes. Butterfly effect could say we have Garland and lose McDaniels because we don’t trade for Rubio. Who knows.

[Klomp]

Before long, we all die. Right now, I'm looking at the next five years and KD will be worthless in five years.

I'm confused....you say you are looking at the next 5 years (so in basketball terms, 2025-26, 2026-27, 2027-28, 2028-29, and 2029-30), but don't want to trade for him because he will be worthless in 2030-31.

[TimberKat]

I'm not scared of paying players, I'm scared of paying OLD players.

Right....and before long, that list will include Anthony Edwards.

Before long, we all die. Right now, I'm looking at the next five years and KD will be worthless in five years.

Yes exactly, who cares if he is worthless in five years. We just want a good two or three year run.