Mark Blount Offers

[deeney0]

I'm all for Okafor for Blount. Deng, too. Either one is as good as any FA you'd expect the Wolves to attract.

[revprodeji]

I am worried about Deng's real age. He also has been incredibly inconsistent the last couple years and he could easily resort to his poor play. He is shooting over 50% from 3 right now and i doubt that keeps up.

I would rather move Blount+Utah pick for Deng then Blount+Ellington.

Okafor does not do it for me when we can bring over Pekovic and or draft an Aldrich or other big man. I do not think Okafor is worth his contract.

If we flip Blount's contract and take on cash then it needs to be for a top-10 pick+rotation(bench) guy or a legit starter. No need to take on cap space for a non-starter.

[shrink]

FWIW, CHA posters say that Okafor's defense has really slipped.

Deng's played well for 15 games, but the length of his deal is pretty dangerous. I wouldn't do the second deal.

[Breakdown777]

I'd love the Okafor deal if the Wolves didn't need a wing so bad. I'd rather stand pat unless we can get a wing in here.

I'd think about Deng, but this team needs shooting so bad I wouldn't want to give up Ellingtone.

[Narf]

There are so many things wrong in this thread.
First off, Minnesota is a far more desirable place to live than New Orleans. Period. Yet some goofball from New Orleans is acting like we can't get a free agent. That's comedy right there. And that attitude is also part of the reason why people are shoving him off.

Second off, Okafor had a 7'4 wingspan and a 9'2.5 standing reach in his predraft measurements. I would guess he's grown a half inch since then, but that'd just be a guess. Regardless, he's always about top 15 in blocks and is routinely rated a top 5 interior defensive player regardless of whether he's playing C or PF. Anyone stuck on the 7'0 mark just doesn't get basketball. Dennis Rodman was 6'8 or so and could guard 7 footers like nobodies business. Ben Wallace was even shorter than that. Okafor can guard the center spot, block shots, and fits well with either Love or Jefferson. He's worth his contract, but barely.

Third, the Wolves 2 best players are PF/C. So while I like Okafor very much, I don't know if I like him eating up more of our cap space from the same position.

And lastly, Minnesota has proven to be a desirable market for free agents to come to. What we haven't done is had the cap space for NBA all stars to come here. In the past we had the MLE and that's it. Anyone claiming to know anything about NBA players not wanting to play here is full of crap. No one has ever said that, or if they have no one here has even suggested so. Outside of Starbury, who's mentally unstable, every player that's come here has been happy with being here from what I can tell. Googs left because of Starbury and said so publicly. Starbury demanded to be traded because he wanted to be the big shot in NY. Brandon was very happy to be traded to Minnesota from Cleveland, and so have most of the players who have been here. There isn't any more to it.

[the_bruce]

I'd give an expiring and a pick for deng

[Worm Guts]

There are so many things wrong in this thread.
First off, Minnesota is a far more desirable place to live than New Orleans. Period. Yet some goofball from New Orleans is acting like we can't get a free agent. That's comedy right there. And that attitude is also part of the reason why people are shoving him off..

Says who? Most guys in their 20's would probably prefer to live in New Orleans.

Second off, Okafor had a 7'4 wingspan and a 9'2.5 standing reach in his predraft measurements. I would guess he's grown a half inch since then, but that'd just be a guess. .

Why would you assume a man who entered the league at 22 has continued growing? Most people finish growing before 20.

And lastly, Minnesota has proven to be a desirable market for free agents to come to. What we haven't done is had the cap space for NBA all stars to come here. In the past we had the MLE and that's it. Anyone claiming to know anything about NBA players not wanting to play here is full of crap. No one has ever said that, or if they have no one here has even suggested so. Outside of Starbury, who's mentally unstable, every player that's come here has been happy with being here from what I can tell. Googs left because of Starbury and said so publicly. Starbury demanded to be traded because he wanted to be the big shot in NY. Brandon was very happy to be traded to Minnesota from Cleveland, and so have most of the players who have been here. There isn't any more to it

Players will come here if it's where they can get most money.

[Worm Guts]

To Minnesota
Luol Deng

To Chicago
Mark Blount
Wayne Ellington

Note about Deng's contract: His contract is 30% deferred, meaning the salary cap number is higher than the check the owner has to write.

Note #2: I basically am wondering if Minnesota would take Deng for expiring/Ellington

There's no reason for Chicago to take that package.

[revprodeji]

only motivation would be cap, and I do not get the impression that is something they are after.

[Worm Guts]

The only way they move Deng for cap room is if they already have something lined up. They wouldn't do it at the deadline, they'd do it during the free agency period.

[Krapinsky]

The only way they move Deng for cap room is if they already have something lined up. They wouldn't do it at the deadline, they'd do it during the free agency period.

I agree. Deng is playing up to his contract right now. I've read that ownership loves him over there and no one is a harder worker. I think he is terribly underrated.

Okafor, I definitely pass on. Larry Brown loves defensive minded players and that is supposed to be Okafor's strength. The fact that he got shipped out of Charlotte for Chandler is a giant red flag to me.

[shrink]

I'm not so sure on Deng, and there are three reasons for CHI to trade him.

1. Despite great revenues from being in a big city, their owner has never, ever gone over the lux. A declining lux in the future and young guys to pay may encourage the team to trade Deng.

2. Dr. K is right that Deng has looked good for the first 20 games, but its the first time in two years that he's been worth that contract. Have they been waiting for this moment, sending out positive remarks? Is it a sell high situation?

3. CHI is a mediocre 7-11, even with Deng's strong play. Would trading him now, and not getting a replacement star, really be a franchise-altering move? Moreover, this is only two teams. They could send us Deng, and send our expirings to PH to bring back Brand and something pretty good.

I may be stuck in the past, but I don't trust Deng. His contract is just so long, and he's been injured in the past, that I think that's high stakes gambling with our raw cap space.

[Worm Guts]

They're under the lux now, won't be near the lux next season and Deng is playing well. I don't see any reason for the Bulls to sell low, at least not right now. They're probably willing to trade him, just not for expirings and a late first round pick.

[shrink]

They're under the lux now, won't be near the lux next season and Deng is playing well. I don't see any reason for the Bulls to sell low, at least not right now. They're probably willing to trade him, just not for expirings and a late first round pick.

Compared to the last two years, this is not selling him low.

[Esohny]

To be fair, Chicago supposedly loves Hinrich(who is a solid player but without injury concerns) as well. That doesn't mean that Hinrich isn't overpaid, and that Chicago hasn't explored trading him.