POLL: Trade Al Jefferson, Love, or Blake Griffin?

shrink · Post #1 » by **shrink** » Fri May 1, 2009 4:10 am

If we happen to get the #1 pick, the clearest choice is Blake Griffin, but that would make our three best players all PF's. Which one would you trade?

Vote

Krapinsky · Post #2 » by **Krapinsky** » Fri May 1, 2009 4:59 am

I just can't get myself to part with Al or Love right now. I would have to see how much Love can improve in the off season first. I would keep Griffin and then reassess the situation at the trade deadline.

prefuse73 · Post #3 » by **prefuse73** » Fri May 1, 2009 5:41 am

Big Al is the only one that can truly get away with playing Center, so I would have to say that we deal either Griffin or Love. Neither Love or Griffin are strong defensively and Love brings more to the table in overall skills (passing/jump shot eventually) and is a better compliment to Jefferson on Offense.

Additonally, Griffin would have the highest trade value and we would get the most by traiding him. However, I only trade Griffin if Rubio and a servicable 7 footer come back. Perhaps Rubio and McGee from Washington could work...

Post #4 » by **Klomp** » Fri May 1, 2009 6:40 am

I still don't see why we need a "true center." How many true centers are left in the league that those three would have troubles with? Really, all I can think of is Bynum, Yao, and maybe Oden in a few years. Otherwise, I think they can hold their own. That and I think perimeter defense is a bigger problem than interior.

Dan's with the Wolves · Post #5 » by **Dan's with the Wolves** » Fri May 1, 2009 9:51 am

I wouldn't trade any of them right away. In a year or two, you will know who to trade!

cpfsf · Post #6 » by **cpfsf** » Fri May 1, 2009 12:20 pm

I was thinking we won't contend until the 2010 season (Love and our pick will still be super young). Keep them all, get the BPA, we don't need to focus on winning next season. Of course that will only work if we trade Mike Miller as well. If we draft Griffin and trade Rubio, remember it's another trade we will have to hear about for years and years.

Plus, Griffin's a sure thing

mandurugo · Post #7 » by **mandurugo** » Fri May 1, 2009 1:22 pm

Too early to make an informed decision, but Love projects as the worst of the 3 so trade him.

Post #8 » by **Worm Guts** » Fri May 1, 2009 1:23 pm

Whatever gets us the best return.

fattymcgee · Post #9 » by **fattymcgee** » Fri May 1, 2009 2:02 pm

Dan's with the Wolves wrote:I wouldn't trade any of them right away. In a year or two, you will know who to trade!

Let Love and Griffin develop for a year or two so we know which we want to keep and probably increase their trade value. There is plenty of playing time for the 3 of them.

Foye · Post #10 » by **Foye** » Fri May 1, 2009 2:05 pm

Trade Griffin, I want to keep Jefferson and Love :lol:

Post #11 » by **Worm Guts** » Fri May 1, 2009 2:08 pm

Foye wrote:Trade Griffin, I want to keep Jefferson and Love

that emoticon makes your post very confusing.

deeney0 · Post #12 » by **deeney0** » Fri May 1, 2009 2:28 pm

Worm Guts wrote:Whatever gets us the best return.

Agreed. It's impossibly to analyze only one side of a trade.

Devilzsidewalk · Post #13 » by **Devilzsidewalk** » Fri May 1, 2009 2:31 pm

like Dr. said, I probably wouldn't consider anything until the deadline, we don't really know anything about any of the guys right now. What Griffin will look like in the NBA, will Love expand his game in his sophomore year, and how Jefferson will respond to his injury.

Winter Wonder · Post #14 » by **Winter Wonder** » Fri May 1, 2009 3:10 pm

They would all be very difficult to trade, or they could all be easy to trade, it depends on the value and what/who you are receiving in return.

Jefferson probably has/had the highest value and would be hardest to part with, but if LeBron or a Tier 1 Superstar was on his way to MN, you trade Jefferson.

Griffin would be the easiest to trade due to no emotional attachment, but he may have the highest potential of the group. He is somewhat of a big unknown due to not playing an NBA game yet, but his draft status and such make him highly valuable.

Love probably has the lowest ceiling of the three but has so many intangibles that most fans (especially those outside of MN) don't get his true value on the court. He is highly valued by the Wolves and not nearly as much so outside the organization. This means the least return (most likely) of the three listed.

So the answer is "Any" with the condition of whichever gives the best return (and possibly fit) for the team. Griffin would be the easy answer if you are to guess return for value, especially with Jefferson's injury.

shrink · Post #15 » by **shrink** » Fri May 1, 2009 3:26 pm

I didn't want to list the possible returns because they are so speculative, so just assume a "fair" return. This is about who you want to build the team around.

The player who's trade value could take the biggest hit if we wait may be Blake Griffin. The media will be following him around every day until the draft, and his value will probably never be higher. Only once in NBA history has a #1 pick ever been traded, because that media brings revenues. People are always hyped up about the rookies, particularly top lottery picks, seeing them as what they hope they will become, rather than their expected value. There's always the chance (I think its slim) Griffin busts as well. We know Al and Kevin can play well against NBA competition.

For me, I don't know who I'd choose, and I agree with posters that say that it would depend on the return. Its funny though that guys like Love and Al that were off the table would suddenly be reasonable trade pieces if we got Griffin.

My main concern in this thread though is who we want to base our team around long term for the Wolves future.

Winter Wonder · Post #16 » by **Winter Wonder** » Fri May 1, 2009 3:36 pm

That's a tough and important question, Shrink. They all are PF's, but they all have different games. Griffin is quite a bit more athletic, Jefferson is a half court back to the basket type, and Love is Mr. Intangible and Effort. You don't necessarily pick the same pieces to surround each player. A half court PG with Jefferson is ideal, with Griffin, probably not so much. Again, an extremely important question. If we don't get the first, though, you are still probably building around Jefferson (not so much Love as he is more to compliment Al as well).

prefuse73 · Post #17 » by **prefuse73** » Fri May 1, 2009 3:46 pm

I can be on board with taking a unique approach and just use a 3 PF rotation of Jefferson/Love/Griffin. Perhaps Griffin could put some time in at SF as well. I mean LBJ is pusing 6'9 270 and playing SF (albeit an athletic freak), so Griffin (at 6'9 250) could maybe do it in spurts. It would mean the end of Gomes and Smith.

I agree that we are in a position to take BPA without regards to position. Either way, I want us to add a legit 7 footer as well. Either take Jrue Holiday at #18 or use some combination of Gomes/Smith/Telfair/Cardinal/Madsen/Boston Pick to get a 7 footer and Hinrich.

Jefferson (36) / ZaZa or other 7footer (12)
Griffin (18) / Love (30)
Brewer (28) / Griffin (12) / Miller (8)
Foye (20) / Miller (28)
Holiday #18 (24) / Foye (16) / Brown (8)

cpfsf · Post #18 » by **cpfsf** » Fri May 1, 2009 9:32 pm

I'm changing my mind, it does just depend on what's available. I mean if we draft 1st and lets say OKC drafts 2nd or 3rd than we got a lot of trade scenarios coming up.

ANYTHING IS POSSSSSSSSSSSIBLE

theGreatRC · Post #19 » by **theGreatRC** » Fri May 1, 2009 9:34 pm

cpfsf, i'm curious..is that your dog in your avatar?

If so, what a cutie

cpfsf · Post #20 » by **cpfsf** » Fri May 1, 2009 9:55 pm

theGreatRC wrote:cpfsf, i'm curious..is that your dog in your avatar?

If so, what a cutie

that's my dog liberty bell before i adopted her. because of you, now im going to have to update the picture

Which Would You Trade?